Why Makai Lemon Is The One Who Could Force Ben Johnson To Hijack The Draft
Last season, nobody expected the Chicago Bears to take a tight end in the 1st round of the draft. However, as rumors began circulating, it was apparent that barring an unexpected development, that position was their primary target. Sure enough, they took Colston Loveland from Michigan. It’s hard to argue with the choice. After a slow start to his rookie year, Loveland became one of the team’s best playmakers during a playoff run. It was later revealed that head coach Ben Johnson was the primary reason for this, seeing shades of Sam LaPorta in the rookie’s game. That is where Makai Lemon comes in.
What made Johnson’s offenses in Detroit so lethal in 2023 and 2024 wasn’t just LaPorta’s presence. It was also wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. His mixture of sharp route-running and excellent hands makes him a lethal option in the slot. Johnson runs his passing game through that position, which is why St. Brown was a perfect fit. So it feels rather noteworthy that Lemon is drawing comparisons to the Lions star.
“NFL Comparison: Amon-Ra St. Brown
High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills. Lemon has room for refinement, but not much. He’s intelligent, confident and polished with the ability to make plays on all three levels…He’s an exceptional ball-tracker with excellent catch timing and few focus drops. He wins more combat catches than he loses. Lemon is a plug-and-play, quarterback-friendly talent with first-round value and Pro Bowl upside.”
Makai Lemon does everything well.
It’s hard to find plug-and-play starters in a draft every year. The USC receiver is one of them. His refined technique and competitive natures means he won’t be overwhelmed by NFL defensive backs. We already know Johnson is a stickler for detail-oriented players. They must also be willing participants in the running game. Lemon offers plenty of evidence of both on tape. The fact that he caught a couple of passes as a freshman from Caleb Williams in 2023 doesn’t hurt either. Chicago’s quarterback was recently at the USC pro day.
We already know the Bears aren’t afraid to take players at a position that might be deemed a need. Tight end wasn’t last season. They still took Loveland. Johnson is more about acquiring good football players. Lemon checks that box. It doesn’t hurt that he has all the tools the Bears’ head coach covets. What it comes down to is availability. Current projections have Lemon going somewhere in the mid-teens to early 20s next month. That means there is at least an outside chance he could fall to #25.
Don’t discount the loss of D.J. Moore.
Trading the veteran wide receiver wasn’t something the Bears wanted to do. It was a business decision. The team was in a difficult salary cap situation and knew they couldn’t afford to keep paying Moore his extensive contract. Having Rome Odunze and Luther Burden still on the roster made it easier to swallow. Yet that doesn’t change the fact that this receiving room is weaker than before. The depth behind those two is highly questionable, even with the arrival of veteran Khalif Raymond from Detroit.
It’s already been reported that Chicago has a lot of fans of this wide receiver class inside Halas Hall. There is no way Johnson isn’t aware of Makai Lemon. The receiver would fit this offense like a glove, making life so much easier for Williams. Yes, the Bears still need lots of help on defense and should probably focus there in the draft. Yet this is Johnson’s team. If he feels Lemon is there for the taking, he may forego the current plan to get him. Need or luxury is immaterial.