It is still uncertain where Makai Lemon will land, and it is guaranteed he will be picked in the first round. Many experts and analysts believe they have it figured out, stating him as either the choice of a top NFC team or a young team in the AFC.
Here are the most popular destinations for Makai Lemon:
New York Jets
The Jets have a clear gaping need at receiver to fill early in the draft, as last season their receiver room was the worst in the NFL. While there is uncertainty whether or not Aaron Glenn will be the coach for the future and who will be the quarterback, this team still needs blue-chip players. Makai Lemon is a perfect building block, and he is quarterback-proof. He might not be as productive in New York as he would be in other landing spots, but for the Jets, he would still be everything they need.
Cleveland Browns
Just like the Jets, there is a lot of uncertainty in Cleveland. Yet Makai Lemon solves a lot of issues for the Cleveland Browns’ offense. If Shedeur Sanders is able to keep the job, getting a blanket and reliable receiver, as Lemon would be great for Sanders’ development. Cleveland is the earliest Makai Lemon would land, but his impact will still be huge. Todd Monken would be able to carve out great success for Lemon, and in my opinion, he would be the best possible offensive weapon for the Browns to take in the first round.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have been the most popular landing spot for Makai Lemon heading into the draft. Puka Nacua is a bigger and more physical version of what Makai Lemon is in his short stature. Lemon breaks tackles. He can get yards after the catch, he can block, and he understands high-power offenses. Makai Lemon’s skill set makes him a player the NFL does not want to see land with the Rams because he would be a perfect fit.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are also a top landing spot for Makai Lemon for great reason. Lemon is seen as just a slot receiver by many people, but he can debunk that theory the most if he lands with the Saints. Chris Olave is another smaller but effective receiver that Lemon could complement in a way that will make the Saints a nightmare opponent for defenses. Kellen Moore further got respect for being one of the top young offensive minds with how he turned things around for the Saints’ offense early. He gave Dallas their best season offensively recently and the Eagles their best season when they won the Super Bowl in 2024 as offensive coordinator. He creates success anywhere he goes, and he can turn Makai Lemon into the weapon he is supposed to be using him creatively.
My favorite out of the 4
My two favorite destinations out of the bunch are the Rams and the Saints. In both landing posts, I think Makai Lemon can be highly successful as a rookie. If I had to lead more towards one, it would be the Rams. Sean McVay would make it a smooth transition for Makai Lemon, and he would be the perfect offensive mind to stumble upon Lemon’s talent. Matthew Stafford has already proven he can get the most out of his reicovers, and getting Lemon in to replace Davante Adams in the future would be as good an insurance policy as you can get. There is a real-world scenario where Majai Lemon becomes the Rams’ best receiver in two seasons. For right now, the Rams would have the best receiver trio in the NFL.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Most popular landing spots for USC’s Makai Lemon in 2026 NFL draft
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
