Making the case: Does Makai Lemon make sense as a fit for the Los Angeles Rams?
The Los Angeles Rams have frequently been connected to an intriguing West Coast playmaker in USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Does he make sense in the first round?
Throughout the 2026 NFL Draft, perhaps no player has been connected to the Los Angeles Rams more than USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. This pairing even occurred in A to Z Sports’ latest mock draft.
However, does the pairing make a lot of sense? Should the Rams draft Makai Lemon in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
I’m kickstarting a series of “Making the Case” articles for all of the top prospects connected to the Rams, starting with Lemon.
The case for Makai Lemon with the Los Angeles Rams
The Rams do need at least one, but preferably two wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft. In an ideal world, they find an outside playmaker to replace Davante Adams, and a slot receiver who threatens more as a receiver than Jordan Whittington. General manager Les Snead himself attended USC’s Pro Day last month, furthering the noise.
Lemon can fill one of those roles as a slot receiver. You’ll see numerous comps to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a reason, given Lemon’s smooth ability as a route-runner. He beats zone coverage very well, and he’s a strong, strong catcher. Lemon works open across the middle of the field well, and has all the makings of a high-floor and high-volume pass catcher.
There’s nothing in his profile that suggests he is a bad or uncapable player. He can be a team’s No. 1 option, albeit situationally, or most likely a strong No. 2 complement. The fit with the Rams, however, feels…iffy.
The case against Makai Lemon with the Los Angeles Rams
My issue is moreso Lemon’s fit with the Rams. If the Rams are going to take a wide receiver early, they should be the long-term Adams replacement who can win on the outside. Off of sheer positional value alone, an outside wide receiver is infinitely more valuable than a slot receiver.
Many believe Lemon is capable of playing on the outside, and I don’t entirely disagree. However, in my opinion, the best way to utilize him is in a similar way to what the Rams already do with Puka. Lemon can be moved around the formation to free him up from true press coverage as the Z/flanker and into the slot. The problem is…the Rams already have a guy who can do that at an extremely high level in Puka Nacua. They don’t need another one.
What the Rams do need is a high-level separator on the outside opposite of Nacua. There’s a reason why Davante Adams was such a coveted addition by Sean McVay. Adams saw press coverage more than 50% of the time last season, and had strong production beating it all season long. Adams is an on-ball perimeter wide receiver for the vast majority of snaps.
I don’t see a player in that same vein in Lemon. I see a good player, no doubt about it, but small and not fast is not an ideal combination for a perimeter “X” wide receiver. Lemon doesn’t necessarily beat man (particularly press-man) coverage at a high level compared to other similar wide receivers, like Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
I did mention the Rams needed a slot receiver, and Lemon can do that. However, if the Rams plan on sticking with heavy personnel, or deploying it even more next season, the importance of that role drastically decreases. Do you want to spend a first-round pick on a player who might play 55% of snaps?
Verdict
Makai Lemon is a good player. I don’t think he would be unproductive with the Rams. However, I don’t believe this is the best use of their resources. To me, it’s too much overlap with the players they already have on the roster. Unless they plan on moving on from Nacua (which seems doubtful but possible), Lemon’s ideal fit is already occupied by a highly-proven player.
For me, I would be out on Lemon with the Los Angeles Rams.
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