Year after year, there has been a rookie wide receiver who has been a game changer in the NFL and has reached 1,000 yards in his rookie season. This past season, it was Tetairoa McMillan who posted over 1,000 yards and won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He was a key reason the Carolina Panthers made the playoffs this season. Former Trojan receiver Makai Lemon could make that same exact impact.
In a recent mock draft by draft analyst Chad Reuter, he not only compares Lemon to Malik Nabers, but he also has Lemon going very early in the first round. Here is an analysis of Lemon and where he is projecting the former Trojan to land.
"With his toughness and versatility as a pass-catcher, Lemon reminds me of Malik Nabers coming out of LSU -- and Nabers went sixth overall to the Giants in 2024. For any of the QBs on Cleveland's roster (Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel , and Deshaun Watson) to make progress in 2026, Cleveland's receiver corps requires a boost after just one wideout topped 338 receiving yards (Jerry Jeudy had 602 on 50 catches in 2025)."
The Cleveland Browns could use all the help they can get offensively, as last season they were one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Young quarterback Shedeur Sanders showed a little bit of promise, yet he inherited quite an impossible set of obstacles to overcome. Change will be coming for this offense, and new coach Todd Monken should be able to make this a more formidable unit.
The Browns' receivers struggled mightily; in fact, the Browns' best weapon was rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. He was a lone bright spot for the Browns this season. Makai Lemon would fit in perfectly, and it might be a reach taking him at 6 in hindsight, but his impact will make that thought vanish.
Todd Monken has had Zay Flowers as a 1k receiver the past two seasons and a pro-bowler this season. Lemon would fill that role and then some. His reliability and his elite ability to get open will become such a necessity for Shedeur Sanders. I think Lemon would be a 1k receiver right out of the gates and be a favorite for offensive rookie of the year.
It is a less-than-likely landing spot for Lemon, but Lemon in Cleveland would be the exact piece needed to turn the Cleveland Browns' offense into an electrifying one. Shedeur Sanders will start to turn the corner and be the next quarterback who starts to pick it up after he gets that #1 receiver.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon could be next rookie receiver to make huge NFL impact