2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Makai Lemon (WR – Southern California)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in February. Here’s a look at USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Makai Lemon

Makai Lemon (WR – USC)

5-foot-11 | 195 Pounds

Background

Makai Lemon was a five-star recruit who played sparingly in 2023, including a few snaps as an injury replacement at cornerback, finishing the year with six catches. Played in the slot in 2024, totaling 52-764-3 (14.7), then essentially reprised that role in 2025, winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award with an impressive 79-1,156-11 (14.6) line.

Positives

Productive two-year receiver with escalating production for a major program. Typically lines up in the slot and works the middle of the field often, with hook routes, slants, in-breakers, over routes, etc. Very quick receiver who looks fast through the stem. Has some snap in his breaks to create throwing windows. Plays the game with a veteran’s savvy. Shows a good feel for space when working against zone coverage.

Lemon uses his hands well to slip by jammers. Works back to the ball to prevent defenders from getting into the play. Able to improvise and create opportunities when the play breaks down. Predominantly an underneath receiver, but knows how to switch up his pace to create opportunities for deeper throws as well. Plucks the ball well away from his frame, with nice body control to adjust.

Showed impressive toughness and concentration to come down with throws through contact. Produce on throws like back-shoulder slot fades because of his focus. Only credited by Pro Football Focus (PFF) with four career drops, suggesting very reliable hands. Elusive and creative in space. Feisty runner who can fight for additional yardage after contact and even break the occasional tackle. More effective as a blocker than his size would suggest because of his chippy temperament.

Negatives

Roughly three-quarters of Lemon’s snaps came from the slot. Probably fits better there from a physical standpoint as well. A lot of his work came against off-zone coverage, and he might struggle to release at the line against physical press coverage.

The USC prospect looks quicker than fast and can be chased down from behind on some runs. Very reliable within his radius, but doesn’t present the biggest target for his quarterback to throw to. Might require a relatively accurate passer at the NFL level. Returned a handful of kicks, but only a few punts.

Summary

In most respects, Lemon is your prototypical scrappy slot receiver, with impressive quickness, snappy route-running, savvy awareness and nuance, plus competitiveness after the catch. However, he also offers a safer pair of hands than many smaller slot receivers and has a bit more volume as a downfield target because of his ability to use pace changes and control his body to make difficult adjustments.

Lemon works best when he’s able to play underneath off-zone coverage. May not have the ideal size to slide outside, but he should be able to handle a high-volume workload, with reliability that can improve the efficiency of a passing game.

Projection: Round 1