Makai Lemon has been a favorite prospect of Kansas City Chiefs fans for quite a while now. In fact, we've been talking about him here for months now.
Now, going into the 2026 NFL Draft in just a few days, the Chiefs look to be more and more well-positioned for Lemon with one of their first-round picks.
FanSided's NFL Draft guru, Mike Luciano, released his brand-new, up-to-date Big Board ahead of draft weekend and, checking in as his no. 10 overall prospect is none other than the USC prospect. As Luciano's no. 10 overall player, Lemon looks like he's in great position to end up in Kansas City ... if Brett Veach makes that call.
If the Kansas City Chiefs want Makai Lemon, they will have to select him at no. 9 overall
Coming into the draft with two first-round picks -- no. 29 courtesy of the Trent McDuffie trade -- the Chiefs are in an interesting position. They have the ability to add two premier players to a team that's won three Super Bowls in recent years.
Of course, the quiet part out loud is that this Chiefs team has long needed a top-tier wide receiver. The offense has gone without a true no. 1 option for a few years now, unless you consider Rashee Rice to fall into that category.
Still, Kansas City needs to give Patrick Mahomes far more to work with in the passing game. And, the Chiefs look like a team that will indeed select a wide receiver fairly high.
If they want Lemon, he's going to have to be their pick at no. 9 overall. If they pass on him there, Lemon is very likely gone within the next few picks and has absolutely no shot at lasting until 29.
"Lemon's contested catch skills are truly exceptional, and the ability to get open despite lacking the same supersonic speed some other top prospects have ... he has a very high floor," Luciano wrote.
Following the Chiefs' pick at no. 9 and the Cincinnati Bengals (10), the Miami Dolphins make a selection at no. 11. That's a Dolphins team which just traded Jaylen Waddle, a player with some similar traits to Lemon in that he can get open and work the middle of the field well.
If Lemon is there for the Dolphins at 11, it's going to be hard to pass on him.
If not Lemon, of course the Chiefs could also go with one of Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate, assuming they last to that point. Luciano has Tyson as his no. 11 prospect while Tate is up a little higher at no. 8. The consensus, here, is that all three wide receivers are extremely close in ranking.
Chiefs fans would, of course, love to see Veach come away with one of them. Will it be Lemon, if he's there for the taking?
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