The 2026 NFL Draft is just days away now, and nobody knows what the New Orleans Saints will do with the eighth-overall pick. While the team appears to have its quarterback of the future in Louisville’s Tyler Shough, the team could realistically invest in just about every other position. New Orleans must support Shough, as Chris Olave is the only proven receiver on the team. However, they could also use help along the defensive line and in the secondary.
No matter which position they decide to address, there should be a good player on the board when it’s their turn to pick. However, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine warned that if the Saints draft a wide receiver, it shouldn’t be USC’s Makai Lemon.
“Kellen Moore is going to want weapons for Tyler Shough and Lemon is a YAC monster. However, Lemon’s size (5’11”, 192) and lack of top-end speed might make him more of a chain mover than a do-it-all weapon,” Ballentine writes. “B/R scout Dame Parson noted that he ‘struggles against physical and long press corners can be disrupted at the line.”
Saints Urged to Avoid Makai Lemon In 2026 NFL Draft
Makai Lemon is a good prospect and is a worthy first-round pick, but a top-10 selection might be a bit too much for the USC product. While Lemon can make plays after the catch and quickly create separation off the line, he lacks the same ceiling as guys like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. Lemon will exclusively play the slot at the next level, which gives him a more difficult path to being an elite player in the NFL.
Makai Lemon has a similar skill set to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, so it’s not impossible for him to develop into a featured part of a passing attack. However, St. Brown is the exception to the rule. Chances are, Lemon will be a solid WR2 at the professional level, rather than a legitimate WR1. The Saints should draft Tate over Lemon if he’s still on the board, and they should consider Tyson if they’re comfortable with his injury history.
