WR3

Makai Lemon

78.98 Recliner Rating:

Hear the Breakdown: Listen to the Pod

RELEASE/ROUTE RUNNING

Lemon is a polished short-to-intermediate route runner with borderline elite ability. He can stop and sink his hips on a dime, exploding out of his breaks with great athleticism. His release is strong, using quick, intentional footwork to consistently create separation at the line. While his explosiveness allows him to dust defenders early, physical DBs who land their hands can occasionally disrupt the timing of his routes.

PHYSICALITY

Grades out well in terms of physicality, showing strength to hand-fight effectively through routes and a mean stiff arm that breaks tackles after the catch. While he could be more forceful at the release point, it’s a minor concern and not a limiting factor in his game.

YARDS AFTER CATCH

Lemon is a dangerous playmaker after the catch who consistently generates yards with the ball in his hands. He’s elusive in space yet strong enough to break tackles with a stiff arm, pairing quickness with physicality. His instincts stand out, as he shows a natural feel for defenders immediately after securing the catch.

ATHLETICISM

Lemon shows great speed and high-level burst, with elite quickness in and out of breaks and the ability to change direction on a dime. While his acceleration is a clear strength, his top-end speed is not elite, allowing defensive backs to occasionally run him down on deep downfield catches.

FANTASY OUTLOOK

There are very little weaknesses to Lemon's game. He is elite as a route runner and this will set him apart at the next level. Despite our mixed emotions about his landing spot with the Eagles, we still view him as top 5 pick in your rookie draft.

BALL SKILLS

Displays sticky, reliable hands and consistently finishes catches, even in contested situations despite a smaller frame. He tracks the ball well downfield and adjusts naturally in the air, playing bigger than his size with a clear dog mentality. While he can struggle at times securing balls thrown low or outside his frame, this appears more physical than technical and doesn’t detract from his overall reliability as a pass catcher.