Makai Lemon NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Philadelphia Eagles WR

Damian ParsonNov 9, 2025

The Philadelphia Eagles selected USC WR Makai Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Makai Lemon is a compact, competitive slot receiver with strong hands, great route feel, and high-level run-after-catch ability.

Lemon plays both in the slot and outside as the Z-receiver but projects best as a predominant slot target and chain mover in the NFL. His toughness, spatial awareness, and tackle-breaking prowess allow him to consistently gain yards after the catch.

Lemon entered USC as a 4-star recruit in the 2023 recruit class. He has emerged as USC's top receiver and won this season's Biletnikoff Award for the Best Receiver in college football.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

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Where He Wins

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 27 USC at Illinois

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- Lemon is a dangerous run-after-catch threat, using contact balance, lateral agility, and vision to create extra yardage

- Great play strength allows him to break tackles and finish plays through traffic

- Displays strong, dependable hands and consistently catches away from his frame

- Excellent ball tracking and timing his hands late in the process, limiting opportunities for defenders to disrupt the catch point

- His toughness shines when he's asked to work in the middle of the field. Lemon does the dirty work in the short- and intermediate-area of the field

- Highly competitive over the middle target, he shows zero hesitation working in high-traffic areas

- Adequate run blocker and does not back down at the point of attack

- A nuanced route-runner who understands leverage and spacing. Strong use of tempo variation, sharp footwork, and physicality at the top of his routes for separation

Areas of Improvement

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- Struggles against physical and long press corners can be disrupted at the line. Needs a more reliable release package to avoid being rerouted

- Limited catch radius due to average length and wingspan. Will have difficulty consistently converting contested catches against longer NFL defensive backs

- Lacks an elite initial burst and top-end explosiveness. More of a build-up speed athlete, limiting his ability to consistently threaten vertically from the perimeter