Here’s a scouting report on Lemon and what he could bring to the Rams’ offense:

Scouting Report

Lemon was named the winner of the 2025 Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding FBS wide receiver. After a season where Lemon led the Power Four conferences in receiving yards (1,156) and yards per game (96.3) on 74 receptions in 12 games, that wasn’t a surprise. He also scored 13 total touchdowns, including two rushing scores.

What’s so impressive about the season Lemon put together is that he did it as a 5-foot-11, 195-pound junior without the physical skill set boasted by other top receivers in this class. He doesn’t have the size of Arizona State’s Jordan Tyson or the speed of Georgia’s Zachariah Branch. Instead, he uses his football IQ and relentless motor to make the right plays at the right time.

He “manipulates defenders out of position with route acumen,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. His “ball-tracking adjustments and catch timing are elite” and he boasts “good patience with late catch adjustment to save his catch space.”

“If the ball is in his area code/vicinity, he will be favored to bring it in,” wrote Damian Parson of Bleacher Report. “He is a savvy pass catcher who waits until the last second to attack the football as it descends.”

He’s more than willing to run over the middle with zero hesitation, and that fearless nature translates after the catch as well. Lemon led the Big Ten in yards after catch (502), according to Pro Football Focus, and ranked third in missed tackles forced.

The consensus on Lemon is that he’s a complete receiver who knows how to separate, attack the ball at the catch point and make defenders miss with the ball in his hands. His biggest deficiencies are his explosion and long speed. But if he’s employed similar to how St. Brown has been in Detroit, that won’t be a huge issue. His route-running prowess and ball skills will prevail.

“He is a nuanced and savvy route-runner,” Parson wrote. “Lemon attacks leverage aggressively, pushing the defender off their spot to create space for him to occupy. He sells routes with intentionally violent steps, plants, and cuts.

“He is fearless between the hashes and fights through contact for every available yard. He plays bigger than his size. He’s an adequate run blocker as well and does not back down at the point of attack.”

Fit

The Rams are in the market for a third wide receiver for a few different reasons. Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield and Xavier Smith all took snaps in that role behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams last season, but none of them truly separated from the pack. Smith led that group with 303 yards on 18 receptions in the regular season, and Whittington tied him with 18 grabs but only produced 171 yards off them.

With Atwell signing with the Dolphins in free agency, the Rams have room on the roster and an open role in the offense for a third wide receiver. Lemon fits the Rams’ scheme well, as he can play all over the formation and understands how to get open using leverage against both man and zone coverage.

“Makai Lemon is a Rams-type wide receiver,” wrote Mike Renner of CBS Sports. “He plays a rugged brand of football and is more than willing to work the middle of the field. His game should translate quickly to the NFL.”

Lemon could be a piece to build around for the future as well, as the 33-year-old Adams’ contract expires at the end of next season. Until that time, Lemon is more than capable of excelling as a third option in the Rams’ offense.

“Lemon can be the shooting guard to star WR Puka Nacua’s power forward,” wrote NFL.com’s Charles Davis in a recent mock draft. “Oh, and the Rams still have six-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams. Matthew Stafford approves.”