Makai Lemon is a player many teams will think hard about taking in the 2026 NFL draft, even if their needs aren't at receiver. Makai Lemon is a potential culture changer and a franchise quarterback's best weapon all wrapped in one.
If your team wants to embody a tough identity, there is no better recruit to pick up than Makai Lemon, who plays way taller than his 5′ 11″ height. Matt Miller is the next draft analyst to recognize that, and he has yet another team passing up their biggest need to take Lemon.
In a recent mock draft by ESPN's Matt Miller, he has a former Trojan receiver headed to the New York Jets. Here are his thoughts on the Jets taking Makai Lemon in the first round:
"We're still not reaching for a quarterback, instead going with a "best player available" pick with one of my favorite players in the class. Lemon caught 79 passes with only one drop on 110 targets last season, scoring 11 touchdowns and averaging almost 100 yards per game. Lemon doesn't have elite measurables at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, but he's similar to Amon-Ra St. Brown in his toughness and ability to make plays across the middle and on underneath routes. The Jets have a talented young receiver in Garrett Wilson , but need to build out the wide receiver room around him. With two picks coming in Round 2, the Jets have the draft capital to address more needs with high picks."
The Jets have no quarterback yet, and many assume they will either trade for one or take a chance on a young veteran quarterback in free agency once again. They already have Garrett Wilson, who has been a top receiver in the league even without quarterback stability. But adding a player like Lemon would make this offense really fun to watch.
No matter who the quarterback is for the Jets, having Lemon and Wilson will put that quarterback in a great position to succeed. Lemon draws a strong comparison to Amon-Ra St. Brown, a former USC Trojan, and he has played a huge part in the Lions turning their franchise around. Aaron Glenn, former defensive coordinator for the Lions, saw firsthand every day in practice what having St. Brown can do for an offense. I think Glenn would be quite intrigued to bring that same kind of player to his roster.
Lemon would be a great building block piece for the Jets and help give this offense exactly what they're missing, and that is pushing the ball down the field. He is a big playmaker who can run every route in the route tree, all while being an elite 50/50 ball catcher. I think he is one of those quarterback prospects of receivers, and he would thrive in New York even without answers at the quarterback position.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon too good for New York Jets to pass up in NFL draft