The Dallas Cowboys may look to draft USC standout wide receiver Makai Lemon as a long-term backup for George Pickens.

Lemon, a recipient of the Biletnikoff Award, is one of the top prospects to come out of college football in this year’s draft.

Josh Edwards from CBS Sports has identified in his mock draft that the Cowboys may take Lemon with the 20^th overall pick in the first round.

“Makai Lemon gives them another slot element and allows them to move some of the chess pieces around the board, but he also provides insurance and creates a potential off-ramp if CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens becomes too expensive,” Edwards wrote.

The Cowboys had earlier placed a franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, worth $27.3 million. However, it seems that Pickens is not pleased with the decision.

The Cowboys would be aiming to sign him to a long-term deal ahead of the upcoming season.

Pickens in the free market could command upwards of $30 million. They already have an expensive wide receiver in the form of CeeDee Lamb, who signed a four-year contract extension worth $136 million in August 2024.

The wide receiver duo would then become the second-most-expensive receiver duo in the NFL currently. This makes Makai Lemon a good addition to the squad.

In his 2025 season with USC, he recorded 79 receptions, with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com has compared the USC wideout with Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St.Brown. That is high praise for the young college talent.

Makai Lemon reveals he looks up to Amon-Ra St.Brown

During the NFL Combine interview, Makai Lemon was asked which NFL player he looks up to the most.

Lemon was quick to answer that he centers his game and playstyle around Amon-Ra St.Brown, who also played at USC.

Speaking about the Detroit star, Lemon said, “The type of grit he plays with. The way he can have a positive impact on the team without the ball in his hands.”

Makai Lemon has also caught the eyes of several analysts who have high regard for him.

Analyst Mel Kiper spoke highly of Lemon, saying, “This kid is a warrior who plays with passion. I’d want Lemon on my roster. He snatches the ball away from his body in an attacking manner, then runs with a fierce approach after the catch. He is one of my favorite players in the class.”

Lance Zierlein has identified Lemon as “High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills.”

No doubt Lemon is a standout prospect, and the Cowboys can look to invest in him if the Pickens deal doesn’t pan out the way they intended.

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Kalp Thaker