The Kansas City Chiefs need receivers, and they'll host Makai Lemon of USC in a scheduled pre-draft visit.
The Kansas City Chiefs have multiple needs going into the draft, and they’ve scheduled a visit with USC receiver Makai Lemon, who could jump to the top of the first round. The visit was reported by Connor Byrne of ProFootballRumors.com.
Lemon is currently making the rounds with multiple teams that have high draft picks, according to Ian Rappaport of NFL.com. The reported visits so far include the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints, and the ones on Lemon’s schedule are the Chiefs, the New York Jets, New York Giants and Miami Dolphins. Part of the reason for Lemon’s busy schedule is about his potential landing spot in the draft, which is more uncertain than that of other receivers.
Lemon lined up as a slot receiver approximately 75 percent of the time at USC, which would hurt the possibility of him landing in the top of the first round. He’s 5’11”, 192 pounds, and while Lemon did get off to a slow start, he did catch 52 passes for 754 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
That number “soared” last season, according to Byrne, as Lemon caught 79 passes and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the best receiver in college football. He’s also sure-handed, having dropped just four passes in 33 games.
Lemon has some tough competition when it comes to being the best receiver in this draft class, as he’s competing with Carnell Tate of Ohio State. ESPN draft expert Daniel Jeremiah used Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown as a comp, and whoever draft Lemon would undoubtedly love to get that kind of production given that St. Brown has caught 547 passes in his five-year career so far.
The Chiefs are probably doing their due diligence here and kicking the tires on Lemon given his size. They already have plenty of smaller receivers, especially now that the Chiefs know that Rashee Rice won’t be facing another suspension now that the NFL has terminated its investigation into the domestic abuse allegations and the lawsuit Rice is still facing.
The Chiefs’ major interest is believed to be in Tate, who’s expected to land in the top ten. But the Chiefs have multiple needs and a pair of first-round picks to try to meet them, and they’re bringing in offensive tackles and pass rushers as well. Those visits seem to be narrowing Kansas City’s positional focus, but draft day is still slightly less than two weeks away on April 23.