![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2252650562-e1769109747732.jpg\")
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Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams <\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Rams<\/a> could be star hunting in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n NFL<\/a> Insider Peter Schrager\u2019s latest mock draft has the Rams selecting wide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 13 overall pick \u2014 a sign that the franchise is prioritizing the support<\/a> for its MVP quarterback.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is more Matthew Stafford-related and getting him another weapon for his potential last run,\u201d Schrager said on The Pat McAfee Show. \u201cMakai Lemon is everything that Les Snead and Sean McVay love.\u201d<\/p>\n The USC standout has been one of the most commonly selected players to the Rams in recent weeks. And with the draft quickly approaching, the odds are looking strong.<\/p>\n Rams Eager To Add WR Next To Puka Nacua<\/p>\n After addressing key areas across the roster this offseason, wide receiver is starting to stand out as a priority.<\/p>\n The offensive line stabilized late last season, and the defense has been reinforced through multiple additions. That\u2019s shifted attention toward maximizing what remains of Stafford\u2019s window.<\/p>\n Adding another pass catcher fits that direction.<\/p>\n Puka Nacua<\/a> has already established himself as a cornerstone piece, while Davante Adams<\/a> provides short-term production. But Adams is entering the final year of his deal and will turn 34 in December.<\/p>\n That leaves a clear opening for a long-term solution. Similar to how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> operated last year \u2014 drafting Emeka Egbuka<\/a> to carve out a role alongside veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin<\/a> \u2014 the Rams could find a similar result.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, Makai Lemon to the Rams makes a ton of sense,\u201d Schrager added. \u201cIf we\u2019re going all-in and pushing everything toward winning with Stafford, this fits.\u201d<\/p>\n Drafting a receiver in this spot would make one of the NFL\u2019s top offenses even more dangerous. Not to mention, solidify a future at the position.<\/p>\n Makai Lemon\u2019s Draft Profile<\/p>\n Lemon brings a different type of skill set compared to what the Rams currently have.<\/p>\n A Biletnikoff Award winner (the nation\u2019s top wide receiver), he can line up both in the slot and outside, operate in traffic, and consistently work the middle of the field.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s tough as nails. He\u2019s never met a middle of the field he doesn\u2019t like,\u201d Schrager said. \u201cHe\u2019s one of those guys that\u2019s just a dog.\u201d<\/p>\n That toughness shows up in contested situations and after the catch. Lemon\u2019s route running, and willingness to take hits are rare. And those traits align with what Sean McVay has historically valued.<\/p>\n Another factor in Lemon\u2019s draft range could come down to Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson.<\/p>\n Tyson has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his college career, including issues with his knee, collarbone, and hamstring. If teams are comfortable with his medicals, he could come off the board early.<\/p>\n If that happens, Lemon becomes a more realistic option at No. 13. If Tyson slides, there\u2019s a chance Lemon doesn\u2019t reach the Rams at all.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the board could shift quickly. The Rams are positioning themselves to maximize their offensive potential. Whether that ends up being Lemon or another talented receiver will depend on how the draft unfolds.<\/p>\n But the direction is hard to ignore. It\u2019s becoming increasingly likely this team will continue building around its passing game while Stafford is still under center.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tDerek Hryn<\/a> Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Rams\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams could be star hunting in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":860220,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2079],"tags":[7,1014,58,2444,2611,6,424],"class_list":{"0":"post-860219","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-rams","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-los-angeles","10":"tag-los-angeles-rams","11":"tag-losangeles","12":"tag-losangelesrams","13":"tag-nfl","14":"tag-rams"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116367220084835961","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/860220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}