While many are reading too much into the combine interviews and the presence at the podium for Makai Lemon, the tape is the tape. Makai Lemon is one of the best football players in this class, and that is what the main focus should be. College football analyst Joel Klatt is someone who seems to be very high on what he sees in the tape with Makai Lemon.
In a recent tweet, Joel Klatt provides his analysis of what kind of player Makai Lemon can be in the NFL. Here is what Klatt had to say about Lemon:
“I think he is a Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, Jaxon Smith-Njigba type of player… I think he’s going to make some quarterback at the NFL level very, very happy.”
Makai Lemon has mostly been getting comparisons to other Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown, but Lemon’s potential impact could be very similar to what Jaxon Smith-Njigba put up this season. Obviously, it would be crazy to expect him to put up 1800 yards as a rookie, but being a reliable and go-to receiver as a rookie is not as crazy to expect from Lemon.
All last season, Lemon was making Maiava right on the majority of his throws and creating the big plays the Trojans’ offense needed on a consistent basis. He will be able to carry that same reliability directly into his play in the NFL. He has a smoothness to him that is also very similar to Jaxon Smith-Njigba as well.
The Wes Welker and Julian Edelman comparisons are also very valid, as he fits that mold of a smaller receiver that plays bigger than he is and a receiver that is as versatile as can be. Makai Lemon would have fit in those Patriots offenses back in the day like a glove.
Traits like that lead to something special, and having the comparisons that he is getting means whoever drafts him is going to get a star and one of the next best receivers.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon still has some analysts believing in the tape
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
