SportsFeature
Men's college basketball buzz: State of blueblood rebuilds
Men's college basketball bluebloods like Kansas and Kentucky face major rebuilds this offseason.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
USA TODAY has USC star receiver joining Chris Olave in New Orleans
TL;DR
USC receiver Makai Lemon is predicted to join Chris Olave in New Orleans, enhancing the Saints' offense. His skills in making contested catches and big plays will support quarterback Tyler Shough in his second year.
Key points
- Makai Lemon predicted to join New Orleans Saints
- Lemon's skills will support quarterback Tyler Shough
- Lemon complements Chris Olave's deep threat ability
Makai LemonChris OlaveTyler ShoughNew Orleans Saints
Makai Lemon was as serviceable as it gets for a newly starting quarterback, Jayden Maiava, last season at USC. Big plays, making contested catches, and making long plays, Lemon did all of that to ensure the success of Maiava. He can do just that and more at the next level.
In a recent mock draft, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY Sports predicts Makai Lemon will help Tyler Shough a ton next season in New Orleans. Here is what Middlehurst-Schwartz had to say about Lemon landing with the Saints.
New Orleans isn't boxed into taking a receiver early, but it certainly would make sense to boost Tyler Shough's supporting cast entering Year 2 for the quarterback. With his mastery of working the underneath and intermediate areas, Lemon would pair well with deep threat Chris Olave and open up Kellen Moore's aerial attack.
Chris Olave made his money winning deep on defenses; Makai Lemon would slot as the perfect complement to that. He can make short plays into big plays, and he is a versatile weapon that can be moved around like a chest piece. Young quarterbacks need a weapon that always knows where the sticks are, and I think Lemon can be that reliable target on 3rd down for Tyler Shough. If the Saints are truly trying to buy into Shough, drafting Lemon would be a great way of showing that.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon predicted to land with Saints in mock NFL draft
Q&A
What impact will Makai Lemon have on the New Orleans Saints?
Makai Lemon is expected to enhance the Saints' offense by providing reliable short and intermediate options for quarterback Tyler Shough.
How does Makai Lemon complement Chris Olave's playing style?
Lemon's ability to make short plays into big gains makes him a perfect complement to Olave's deep threat capabilities.
What are the expectations for Tyler Shough in his second year with the Saints?
Tyler Shough is expected to improve in his second year, and adding a versatile receiver like Lemon could significantly boost his performance.
