Trojan treat: Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon join winning NFL teams

Two rounds after Makai Lemon went to the Philadelphia Eagles at the 2026 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens took a chance on Lemon's USC teammate, Ja'Kobi Lane. Many thought Lane would slide to Day 3, but the Ravens had other plans. They believe in his potential and think he can be a difference maker.

Lamar Jackson, throughout his tenure in Baltimore, has yet to have a dominant outside threat, someone he can just throw the football up to and trust, that ends today. Ja'Kobi Lane's last season with the Trojans was as reliable as it gets as a weapon on the outside. He can catch 50/50 balls and more often than not, Jayden Maiava, in his first season as a starter, threw the ball up to him time and time again with full trust he would come down with it.

Last season, even playing with the Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon, Lane was still able to find his own success. Lane had 49 catches, 745 yards receiving, and 4 touchdowns. Lane will now be playing with another smaller frame but extremely effective playmaker, Zay Flowers. If I had to guess, Lane and Zay Flowers will end up being a great duo, too.

Lamar Jackson lost a reliable threat in Isaiah Likely to the Giants. Even though Lane was drafted in the 3rd round, there is still upside that he can become the guy that Lamar looks to down the stretch. Makai Lemon ended up in a winning organization where he has a great chance to succeed; now the same fate has happened for his co-star, Ja'Kobi Lane.