USC Trojans standout wide receiver Makai Lemon will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2026 NFL Draft. A move long expected after an excellent junior season that puts him as a likely first-round selection.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Lemon finished the regular season with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding two rushing scores and a touchdown pass. He posted five 100-yard games, four of them over 150 yards, led USC in receptions for the second straight season and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.
Lemon was also named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and is already a Consensus All-American.
Several teams near the top of the 2026 draft could be ideal fits.
The New York Giants remain in search of a true No. 1 receiver and could pair Lemon with a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart to strengthen their passing game. Cleveland is also a strong landing spot, with the Browns needing more explosiveness and reliability on the perimeter for one of the three quarterback who will take over next year.
New Orleans is another team to watch. With an thinned out receiver room and long-term questions at the position, Lemon’s athleticism would provide immediate help. Kansas City could be a dangerous fit, as Lemon’s versatility and yards-after-catch ability would thrive in Andy Reid’s offense alongside Patrick Mahomes.
San Francisco rounds out the list. The 49ers value receivers who can do more than catch passes, and Lemon’s ability as a runner and passer fits their offensive creativity. He would move up the coast and stay in California.
USC has a long history of producing NFL receivers, and Lemon appears to be the next Trojan to follow that path early in the draft.
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