The 2026 NFL Draft is at the end of the month, and that means it’s almost time for a bunch of players to get a moment they’ll never forget.
While there are plenty of players who are sure-thing first-round picks, there are also plenty of guys who could get drafted on the first night but may have to wait until Night 2 to hear their name.
The latter is where USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon fits into the equation. He displayed the ability to be a first-round pick in college, but there’s also some pre-draft doubt.
Will Makai Lemon’s Pre-Draft Interviews and 40-Yard Dash Time Hurt His 2026 NFL Draft Stock?
Lemon did everything you would hope for in a draft prospect during his junior season. He played in all 12 games, collecting 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Lemon was an All-American, added two rushing touchdowns to his ledger, and averaged nearly 100 yards per game. That was a season after catching 52 passes for 764 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore.
However, Lemon’s pre-draft interviews weren’t as convincing as his play on the field, and when you combine that with his size and 40-yard dash time, it has some scouts concerned.
“What are you getting?” a personnel executive with an NFL team asked via ESPN.com. “I love that dude, watching him last year, but evaluating him through the spring, which version of this player will show up in my building? He didn’t test great, had a couple of rough interviews, from what I’ve been told. Seems like something is missing, or maybe I’m missing something.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler added that another NFL personnel source said the USC receiver’s recall and detail of the Trojans’ offense weren’t impressive during a team interview.
“If teams love his intensity and competitive demeanor, they could overlook that,” Fowler wrote. “Lemon’s strengths are route running, running after the catch, and contact balance. And, to be sure, plenty of star NFL players did not conduct great predraft interviews.”
The pre-draft interviews aren’t everything, but they can hold a lot of weight, especially when teams are looking to use a first-round pick on a player.
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Lemon’s 40-yard dash times ranged from 4.46 to 4.53 seconds at USC’s pro day, according to reports, which, for his size, is not impressive.
On PFSN’s Consensus Big Board, Lemon carries a grade of 89.17 and ranks No. 08 overall. While Fowler continued, one AFC scout considers Lemon too small and too slow.
“That scout said his best-case scenario is Amon-Ra St. Brown, who at 6-foot and 202 pounds has a similar build to Lemon (5-11, 192 pounds) and is also a former USC star,” Fowler wrote.
We’ve seen a lot of different scenarios play out on draft day after questionable pre-draft processes. If there’s a team that really likes what they saw from Lemon on the field, that could easily overshadow the rest of it.
However, those pre-draft worries could very well allow Lemon to slide in the draft later this month.
