Saints snag USC's Biletnikoff winner at No. 8! Explosive playmaker Makai Lemon could revolutionize New Orleans' offense.
The New Orleans Saints (6-11) are set to pick early in the 2026 NFL draft. And while in hindsight the team might rather have lost a game or two to pick higher, the circumstances the 2026 draft class will enter in New Orleans are much better than what the 2025 class inherited.
The Saints entered the 2025 season in search of a franchise quarterback and left tackle. They have one of each in Tyler Shough and Kelvin Banks Jr. after a defining draft class an offseason ago. Now they can simply add playmakers, and that's what many are predicting for the Saints this offseason.
Cody Williams of "Fansided" gave his pick for the Saints at No. 8. He has the team taking USC star wide receiver Makai Lemon. The USC receiver was a Biletnikoff Award winner, an award given to college football's best receiver, in his time in Los Angeles.
Williams began with a brief draft note on the player.
"Smaller than (Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate) and (Arizona State receiver Jordan Tyson); 1,156 yards and 11 TDs in 12 games this year; dynamic movement ability across formation and in space."
The production is certainly there for the player, who averaged not much less than a touchdown and 100 yards per game. Adding a workhorse receiver to current Saints star Chris Olave could distribute the weight of the offense and create more balance in the passing game.
Southern California Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) catches a 32-yard touchdown pass against UCLA Bruins defensive back Kanye Clark (1) in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWilliams expanded on his thoughts about Lemon's skillset.
"There are some more meat-and-potatoes type of selections that the Saints should definitely consider in this spot as their rebuild is going to take some time. However, we also saw Tyler Shough start to emerge quite impressively at the end of the regular season when he was handed the reins, and there's also a case to be made for getting him more help to work with. That's what Makai Lemon represents. He doesn't have the typical No. 1 size that Tate and Tyson do, but he more than makes up for that with unmatched elusiveness and agility that make him a threat for chunk yardage in every level of the field."
Having size at receiver might appeal to the Saints with an athletic receiver already in house with Olave. Nevertheless, having two playmakers certainly has to have some level of appeal for New Orleans heading into a second season with Tyler Shough at quarterback. We'll see if Lemon falls to the Saints with the No. 8 pick.