The Chiefs shouldn't let Makai Lemon's size scare them away

The Kansas City Chiefs hold the 9th pick in the NFL Draft, and KC fans all agree that the Chiefs can't waste the opportunity that comes with a pick that high. Regardless of what position they draft, they must come away with an elite player who can be a key part of the team for the next decade. One of the positions that most fans and experts agree could be a possibility is wide receiver, but opinions vary on which wide receivers they should consider that high in the draft.

The wideout that is most frequently mocked in the top ten picks is Ohio State's Carnell Tate. Tate is a prototype big outside X receiver that most fans have been dreaming of Patrick Mahomes having for years. Tate would certainly be a worthwhile pick, but he isn't the only strong option that KC could target with the 9th pick. While some might argue that Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson is an option, his injury history (including a lingering hamstring issue that he'll try to prove he is over) could make him too risky for a team like the Chiefs that is looking to take advantage of what is hopefully a rare opportunity to pick this high.

The other wide receiver who should be considered at pick nine is USC's Makai Lemon. There are several Chiefs fans who immediately shook their heads just reading that last statement. The reason for their (or your) disapproval usually comes down to some version of "The Chiefs don't need another small receiver; they need a true X receiver (like Tate) that can play outside." Again, Tate would certainly make some sense, but writing off Lemon as a first-round target for the Chiefs is a mistake. Period.

If your knowledge of Makai Lemon is limited to the fact that he's 5'11" and 192 pounds, you need to dig deeper and really stop and think about what kind of target Patrick Mahomes prefers. If you don't have time to watch a lot of tape of Lemon, start by checking out Price Carter's excellent scouting report on Lemon. Let's just say he's a fan too.

Chiefs fans need to stop thinking of Lemon as a "small receiver" or "just a slot receiver." He's a receiver who is incredibly productive and gets open against any and all coverages. Yes, the Chiefs could benefit from a really good prototypical X receiver, but what Patrick Mahomes really needs is a receiver who gets open consistently and reliably catches the football. That's Lemon. Carnell Tate may be a better down-the-field contested catch target, but anyone who has been watching Patrick Mahomes since he came into the NFL knows that he'll throw to an open short-to-intermediate target over a contested throw down the field every time.

You can make a strong case that Mahomes' track record says that he would target Makai Lemon way more frequently than he would someone like Carnell Tate. Imagine if Amon-Ra St. Brown (a frequent comp for Lemon) was on the Chiefs. Mahomes would feed him constantly. That could be Lemon, especially after Travis Kelce retires and he needs a new go-to target to keep the chains moving when it's third down.

Lemon's productivity at all levels of the field and against both man and zone is unparalleled in this draft class. He's the only prospect who averaged over 3 yards per route run (an elite number for wide receiver prospects) versus both man and zone coverages. Those numbers put him in elite company.

So in the last five draft classes, there have only been five other wide receivers who had his productivity against both man and zone. Only one of those five players didn't pan out to be an upper-level NFL wide receiver, and two of the wideouts on that list are two of the top three to four receivers in all the NFL.

Pro Football Focus recently had a nice breakdown of the wide receiver prospects in this class with the best yards per route run. Here is a quote from that piece that goes into further detail about Lemon's success at all levels of the field:

"Lemon is not only dangerous from the slot; he can attack every level of the field. He saw 18-plus targets at every depth in 2025, earning elite 90.0 PFF receiving grades at every level beyond the line of scrimmage. He also excelled on screens, earning an 86.8 PFF receiving grade across 23 targets."

The Chiefs would absolutely benefit from a player like Lemon, and there is every reason to believe he would become Patrick Mahomes' prolific go-to target for years to come. It is also worth noting that KC's new wide receiver coach was with the New England Patriots when Julian Edelman (another comp you will see for Lemon) was putting up huge numbers with Tom Brady.

The Chiefs have several good options that could be there at the 9th pick, and they shouldn't be laser-focused on any one player. They could go several different directions with the pick, but if they do decide they are interested in a wide receiver, Makai Lemon should absolutely be a part of that discussion even if he's only 5'11" and 192 pounds. Thankfully, the Chiefs are giving him a good look, having him in for a pre-draft visit. In about one month, we'll know just how well that visit went.