Makai Lemon is predicted to stay in LA in new 2026 NFL mock draft

In a great NFL draft class for receivers, USC's best receiver might stand at the top. One of the emerging favorites for a top-10 selection at the 2026 NFL draft is Makai Lemon. He was recognized as the best receiver in college football in 2025, and a lot of teams have their sights set on him.

In a recent Rams Wire article Skyler Carlin noted that NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah cited the Los Angeles Rams as a potential landing spot for Makai Lemon:

"Although Sunday's heartbreaking NFC Championship loss is still fresh in the minds of  Los Angeles Rams  fans, it'll soon be time to turn our attention toward the 2026 NFL Draft. On top of looking ahead to  which players could hit free agency  for the Rams this offseason, Daniel Jeremiah  dropped his first mock draft at NFL.com , and he has Los Angeles double-dipping on offense in the first round.

At the moment, the Rams currently hold the No. 13 and No. 29 picks in the first round of this year's draft following the defeat to the  Seattle Seahawks . With the 13th overall pick, Jeremiah has LA selecting wide receiver Makai Lemon from USC.

In his third and final year at USC, Lemon tallied 79 receptions, 1,156 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns across 12 games during the 2025 campaign. Jeremiah cites Lemon's toughness as a reason the Rams could pair him with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams next season.'

Here's what Daniel Jeremiah had to say about Lemon to the Rams:

"The Rams value tough, rugged receivers who are also playmakers. It would almost be unfair to add Lemon to an offense that already includes Puka Nacua and Davante Adams."

You can never have enough weapons, and with an offense as prolific as the Rams, Makai Lemon would fit perfectly. Puka Nacua is a top receiver in the league, and although Davante Adams is getting older, he is still an elite receiver in the red zone. Lemon would be the perfect complement to those two. If he ended up in LA, he would not have to be the guy immediately, and he could get a more realistic development plan, all while still dominating in his role.

The Rams have other needs, but boy would it be fun to see Sean McVay working with Lemon and him catching passes from MVP candidate Matthew Stafford . Out of all the potential landing spots for Lemon, this may be one of the better ones for a multitude of reasons. Matthew Stafford has propelled many receivers to have some of the best seasons in NFL history, and Lemon could end up being on the receiving end of that before Stafford retires. Lemon will also get some of the best coaching in the league. McVay's coaching staff has produced some of the best offensive coaches in the league, and it is still running.

Lemon will be set up beautifully for a great long career if he lands in LA with the Rams. Makai Lemon dominated at USC, and he will fall directly in line with the other great USC Trojans dominating in the NFL if he lands with the Rams.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon projected to land with LA Rams in 2026 NFL draft