Makai Lemon - Wide Receiver - USC
1 - Success in high-leverage situations
2 - Contested Catch skillset
3 - How Lemon operates as a route runner
4 - Extension of the run game & post catch traits
Combative & instinctive in high leverage situations. As dependable as you can get when you “have to have it” & has toughness in spades to fight for first downs with consistency when at a disadvantage as a ball carrier. Will be a primary option on 3rd & 4th downs as a Day 1 starter.
In the Redzone option, he can separate in short areas & draw penalties - forces defensive backs towards overaggression due to how well he positions himself towards his Quarterback.
Sets a tone with his down to down urgency & doesn't shy away from heavy contact. Would go as far to say he takes harder hits than any receiver in this cycle, and you would never know it with how he makes plays late in games. Kick return, Punt return, out of the backfield wherever a play was needed, Lemon was available to make it.
Wins the ball with regularity, and plays a physical brand of pathing while the ball is in flight. Creates late separation by out-leveraging defenders. Stays in control through the catch point - is regularly winning reps on the boundary with how efficiently he can negate on ball contact.
Lemon’s ability to control all phases of his routes while maintaining resiliency through contact is a large reason why he is the best three level operator in this cycle - wins at every area of the field.
Good top of route suddenness & physicality. Regularly wins at the 1st & 2nd level when defenders are blanketing him - frustrates defenders when they can’t get through to the ball.
As an outside receiver, he has the qualities to produce at a high-level, however I think his proficiency in the slot will keep him there 65% of the time.
The same physicality that shows up in his routes & at the catch point is present post catch. Highly combative with upper shelf instincts & short area movement tools. Isn’t going to pull away from many Safeties & Corners, but can easily create explosives with his combination of intellect as a mover & physical toughness.
The only “knock” on Lemon is truly the mediocre top-gear, but when you play the game like Cooper Kupp that doesn’t matter very much.
Role-wise, he is going to operate as an extension of the run game & be a big part of a three-level gameplan.