USA TODAY has USC star receiver joining Chris Olave in New Orleans
A recent mock draft has the Saints emphasizing the need to give Tyler Shough weapons. Picking Makai Lemon would achieve that goal
Makai Lemon was as serviceable as it gets for a newly starting quarterback, Jayden Maiava, last season at USC. Big plays, making contested catches, and making long plays, Lemon did all of that to ensure the success of Maiava. He can do just that and more at the next level.
In a recent mock draft , Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY Sports predicts Makai Lemon will help Tyler Shough a ton next season in New Orleans. Here is what Middlehurst-Schwartz had to say about Lemon landing with the Saints . New Orleans isn't boxed into taking a receiver early, but it certainly would make sense to boost Tyler Shough's supporting cast entering Year 2 for the quarterback.
With his mastery of working the underneath and intermediate areas, Lemon would pair well with deep threat Chris Olave and open up Kellen Moore's aerial attack. Chris Olave made his money winning deep on defenses; Makai Lemon would slot as the perfect complement to that. He can make short plays into big plays, and he is a versatile weapon that can be moved around like a chest piece.
Young quarterbacks need a weapon that always knows where the sticks are, and I think Lemon can be that reliable target on 3rd down for Tyler Shough. If the Saints are truly trying to buy into Shough, drafting Lemon would be a great way of showing that. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Makai Lemon predicted to land with Saints in mock NFL draft