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The Trojans have multiple guys who will be getting a good shot at hearing their name called in this upcoming draft. The Trojan that will hear his name in the first round will be no other than this season's Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon. Lemon will make some lucky team very happy, and in a recent mock draft, it appears that team will be the Baltimore Ravens.
In a recent Ravens Wire article, Glenn Erby breaks down ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper predicting Makai Lemon to land in Baltimore in his first mock draft. Here are his thoughts on that potential landing spot, and Kiper's thoughts as well.
"Baltimore has several needs, but with DeAndre Hopkins on a one-year deal and Rashod Bateman having an underwhelming season, wide receiver is definitely the position to watch. ESPN's Mel Kiper just released his first mock of the off-season and the Ravens are predicted to land the Biletnikoff Award winner, Makai Lemon, at No. 14 overall.
Here are Mel Kiper's thoughts on the stud Trojans receiver landing in Baltimore:
"Lemon is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He attacks the ball in the air, and you can see his competitiveness in the way he plays the game. Like Zay Flowers, he's on the smaller side at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. But also like Flowers, he still has inside-outside flexibility. Lemon went for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season, and that kind of production could help get Lamar Jackson back to MVP levels."
The USC junior wide receiver was dominant for the Trojans this season, while serving as Jayden Maiava's favorite target in the team's high-powered passing attack. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding wide receiver in college football after he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon had just three touchdown catches in his first two college seasons combined.
Lemon was third among all FBS players in receiving yards per game, with 96.3, fourth in receiving yards, and tied for seventh in touchdown receptions."
The Ravens have a multiple-time winning MVP at quarterback and a guy who will put his playmakers in great position to be a star. Zay Flowers has shown he can be a productive receiver, but he still leaves more to be desired from a number 1 receiver. Makai Lemon can enter Baltimore as that guy.
A comparison to Amon Ra- St. Brown is easy, as both were stars at USC, but it definitely tracks. Lemon makes getting wide open look way too easy, as he creates separation at an elite level. He is the perfect receiver to be placed in the NFL today, and just as successful as he was this season at USC, it would not be crazy to believe he can do that as a rookie in the NFL. He would become Lamar Jackson's best friend, and those two would light up NFL defenses together. I think in Baltimore, Lemon would be a 1000-yard receiver as a rookie.
Baltimore is a historic franchise, and you need to have a different level of toughness, Lemon fits that mold. Lemon is not your typical receiver. He stands at 5 feet 10, but he plays like he is 6 feet 3. There is not a contested catch, jump ball that he thinks he can't grab. He is the exact weapon needed in Baltimore.
Many may want the Ravens to go defense early, but if Lemon is available when it's Baltimore's time to draft, Lemon is that offensive player you don't think twice about selecting.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Mel Kiper predicts Ravens will draft USC's Makai Lemon in 2026
Continue reading...
In a recent Ravens Wire article, Glenn Erby breaks down ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper predicting Makai Lemon to land in Baltimore in his first mock draft. Here are his thoughts on that potential landing spot, and Kiper's thoughts as well.
"Baltimore has several needs, but with DeAndre Hopkins on a one-year deal and Rashod Bateman having an underwhelming season, wide receiver is definitely the position to watch. ESPN's Mel Kiper just released his first mock of the off-season and the Ravens are predicted to land the Biletnikoff Award winner, Makai Lemon, at No. 14 overall.
Here are Mel Kiper's thoughts on the stud Trojans receiver landing in Baltimore:
"Lemon is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He attacks the ball in the air, and you can see his competitiveness in the way he plays the game. Like Zay Flowers, he's on the smaller side at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. But also like Flowers, he still has inside-outside flexibility. Lemon went for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season, and that kind of production could help get Lamar Jackson back to MVP levels."
The USC junior wide receiver was dominant for the Trojans this season, while serving as Jayden Maiava's favorite target in the team's high-powered passing attack. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding wide receiver in college football after he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon had just three touchdown catches in his first two college seasons combined.
Lemon was third among all FBS players in receiving yards per game, with 96.3, fourth in receiving yards, and tied for seventh in touchdown receptions."
The Ravens have a multiple-time winning MVP at quarterback and a guy who will put his playmakers in great position to be a star. Zay Flowers has shown he can be a productive receiver, but he still leaves more to be desired from a number 1 receiver. Makai Lemon can enter Baltimore as that guy.
A comparison to Amon Ra- St. Brown is easy, as both were stars at USC, but it definitely tracks. Lemon makes getting wide open look way too easy, as he creates separation at an elite level. He is the perfect receiver to be placed in the NFL today, and just as successful as he was this season at USC, it would not be crazy to believe he can do that as a rookie in the NFL. He would become Lamar Jackson's best friend, and those two would light up NFL defenses together. I think in Baltimore, Lemon would be a 1000-yard receiver as a rookie.
Baltimore is a historic franchise, and you need to have a different level of toughness, Lemon fits that mold. Lemon is not your typical receiver. He stands at 5 feet 10, but he plays like he is 6 feet 3. There is not a contested catch, jump ball that he thinks he can't grab. He is the exact weapon needed in Baltimore.
Many may want the Ravens to go defense early, but if Lemon is available when it's Baltimore's time to draft, Lemon is that offensive player you don't think twice about selecting.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Mel Kiper predicts Ravens will draft USC's Makai Lemon in 2026
Continue reading...
