Makai Lemon Emerging as Surprise First Receiver Off the Board in NFL Draft

Good luck finding a mock draft anywhere, or a draft analyst in the media mentioning USC’s Makai Lemon as a potential top 10 pick, and possibly the first receiver taken in this draft. However, some personnel executives from NFL teams don’t seem to think it would be that shocking.

Lemon lacks the ideal size for the modern game and is a better fit in certain schemes, particularly those where he wouldn’t need to be as physical in the run-blocking phase.

Given his overall productivity, reliable hands, and special teams ability, he still stands out. With the slot receiver role becoming increasingly important in today’s passing game, especially in offenses featuring emerging quarterbacks comfortable in the run-pass option, several evaluators deep in this draft process believe Lemon compares very favorably to others at the position.

Elite Productivity In Different Packages

It’s seen as a fait accompli at this point that Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is the first receiver to hear his name called on the opening night of the draft, but this is also the dead period, weeks before the draft, when mock-draft based perception tends to become reality. 

In the high-traffic areas of the slot, being under 6-feet tall tends to work in your favor, and in some offenses that “X-receiver” is even more valuable. Scouts think he is a yards after the catch monster and would thrive instantly in Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay offense (or a coach from their family tree).

“He’s the best slot guy in this draft and it isn’t close,” one general manager told SportsBoom.us. 

“You are seeing some teams run their volume through the slot and this kid is a match-up problem. He can win in tight space and he’s got that punt return and kick return ability, too. For some teams, he’s the best option.”

A longtime personnel executive said: “Do you think (Jaxon) Smith-Njigba is worth a top-10 pick? Because that’s the possible comp for USC, in the right offense. Look at what Seattle just paid (Smith-Njigba) and tell me why this can’t be the first receiver (selected). 

Both agreed that it’s quite possible Lemon sees more volume as a rookie, while Tate provides the big-body deep-ball element that forces teams to alter how they deploy their safeties. Special-teams value is another element to consider as well.

“You know I’m old-school,” the personnel exec said, “but give me the kid who is pushing to play on teams over one, like Tate, who wasn’t.”

You can find Lemon at +500 (DraftKings) to be the first receiver selected.