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Some NFL teams think this popular Rams draft target could be falling
TL;DR
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, a top draft target for the Los Angeles Rams, is reportedly seeing his stock drop according to some NFL teams. Despite being a popular pick among experts, concerns have emerged about his draft position ahead of the upcoming selection.
If you were to read 15 mock drafts, at least 5-7 of them would have the Los Angeles Rams taking USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in the first round. He’s by far the most popular pick for the Rams among experts, which makes sense given their need for a wideout and his playmaking skills after the catch.
Les Snead attended USC’s pro day to watch Lemon (and other prospects), seemingly showing interest in the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner leading up to the draft.
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on his podcast Tuesday that some teams have told him Lemon’s stock is dropping. He asked teams to give him a player who’s falling and “a couple” picked Lemon.
“A couple of teams have said Makai Lemon, the USC receiver. I’m like, ‘Really?’ They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s falling,’” Schefter said.
Schefter notes that this doesn’t necessarily mean Lemon is plummeting down draft boards. He heard similar whispers about Tetairoa McMillan last year before he ultimately went No. 9 overall to the Panthers.
So, all this talk about Lemon falling could simply be a smoke screen, particularly for teams that might be targeting the USC receiver.
“Now, I will say this. Last year, I heard something similar about Tetairoa McMillan,” he said. “I had a bunch of people talk about Tet McMillan, didn't love him around the draft, and then lo and behold right before the draft, I'm hearing that the Broncos and Sean Payton are interested, the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan are interested, and they don't even have the chance to get him, because I think he went number nine to Carolina. So this player that other teams felt was falling, all of a sudden went high.”
Obviously, not every team is down on Lemon. One coach says he’s the closest thing to Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown.
“What I'm hearing about Makai Lemon now reminds me of Tet McMillan last year,” Schefter continued. “Couple teams saying they could see him falling, and then I spoke to one coach the other day, and he's like, ‘This guy is the closest thing I've seen to Amon-Ra St. Brown since I've been analyzing the draft.
“So the point is, everybody has a different interpretation of every player. Teams look at players differently, coaches look at players differently, front office executives look at players differently. Very rarely is everybody aligned and sees things exactly the same.”
Lemon has been projected to go everywhere from No. 8 to the Saints to the Jets at No. 16. The Rams are a perfect landing spot for him alongside Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but it’s unclear how much they like him.
If his stock is falling, it’s probably not dropping too much. But in the event that the Rams trade down and Lemon somehow lands in their lap later in Round 1, they likely wouldn’t mind that.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Potential Rams target Makai Lemon could be falling
Q&A
Why is Makai Lemon's draft stock dropping?
Some NFL teams have indicated that they believe Makai Lemon's stock is falling, although specific reasons for this decline have not been disclosed.
Which NFL team is most likely to draft Makai Lemon?
The Los Angeles Rams are considered the most likely team to draft Makai Lemon, as he is a popular pick among experts due to their need for a wide receiver.
What awards has Makai Lemon won in college football?
Makai Lemon is a 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner, which recognizes the top receiver in college football.
