Now that free agency has officially started, we can look ahead toward the 2026 NFL Draft with renewed focus. This weekly series will take a closer look at some of the prospects the Carolina Panthers could select in the 2026 iteration of the Draft. In this series, we’ll only be looking at prospects the Panthers could seriously consider. This week our profile will focus on USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Bio
Lemon dominated California high school defenses beginning his sophomore season, leading to
MaxPreps All-America First Team honors, an Under Armor All-American selection, a five star recruit rating, and a Polynesian Bowl invite. Lemon stayed in California, committing to USC and playing both sides of the ball as a true freshman. His sophomore season was his breakout season, notching 52 catches for 764 yards and three touchdowns while adding 19 kickoff returns for 514 yards. His junior campaign was even better, snagging an incredible 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Strengths/Weaknesses
Lemon is an incredibly pro ready receiver. He is a fantastic route runner, using leverage and keeping top speed through cuts. He is great at finding holes in zones, and his ball tracking ability helps him win contested catches far more than his frame should allow. Perhaps his best attribute is his hands. He is credited with three drops on 175 targets over two seasons. Three.
His main detractions are physical, as he does not have the ideal frame (5’11”, 192 lbs) or athleticism (scored at or below 51st percentile in athletic testing). If he had those types of physical tools, he’d be a no-doubt top five pick. He also projects to be primarily a slot receiver, spending 75% of his collegiate snaps there.
Projection
Lemon has done everything you could ask of a high ranking prospect during his three years as a Trojan. He continued to get better and produce more as time went on. He’s a high volume receiver who already has veteran savvy and route running skills, which combined with his strong hands give him the highest floor of any receiver in this draft. His ceiling could be a bit limited by his frame and athleticism, but he has similar “weaknesses” to fellow former USC receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Panthers fans might not be celebrating in the streets if the Panthers take another first round receiver, but Lemon could add some reliability to the offense. Jalen Coker has thrived as a “big slot” receiver, but Lemon is a different type of slot receiver. With as much as Bryce Young tends to struggle with intermediate throws over the middle of the field, having a player like Lemon who has a knack for getting open and never drops passes could be a huge boon to the offense in that area of the field.
What do you think, Panthers fans? If Makai Lemon is available when the Panthers select in the 2026 NFL Draft, should they take him? Sound off in the comments!
