Kay Adams gets Les Snead to admit "(Makai) Lemon's a good football player"

When it comes to the annual NFL draft, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead abhors giving away any hint of what he may do. But when discussing the NFL draft with NFL analyst Kay Adams on her Up & Adams Show podcast, Snead let his admiration for USC wide receiver Makai Lemon slip through the cracks.

And it should surprise nobody.

The Los Angeles Rams, a team without glaring needs on the roster, may be hard-pressed to get it right in the draft. After all, the latest news about wide receiver Puka Nacua certainly hints at a need for more wide receiver depth. And USC, a college in LA's back yard, boasts an electrifying rookie receiver prospect in Makai Lemon.

The shocker is that Kay Adams managed to pry a reaction out of Snead as to his thoughts about the rookie. It was not what he said, but how he said it, that gave fans a clue as to his thoughts.

There are many options at wide receiver for Los Angeles in the 2026 NFL Draft. And one of the greatest challenges for Les Snead is not only who to pick, but when to select him. The question is, does Snead perceive value added in Makai Lemon at 13?

It's clear that Les Snead admires Makai Lemon

There are a myriad of options for the LA Rams in Round 1. And those options begin with trading up, trading back, or standing pat. Presuming Los Angeles stands pat, who may remain on the board, and who will intrigue the team.

Despite many mock drafts identifying an offensive tackle in Round 1, that simply does not happen under Les Snead's watch. He has remarkable success in finding offensive linemen late in the draft and allowing the coaches to get them up to NFL starting speed. Why mess with success?

Fans could make an argument for a quarterback like Alabama's Ty Simpson. But the presumption that the runner up rookie quarterback will fall to 13th overall in this draft is highly speculative. Too many NFL teams need a quarterback and are selecting before LA.

The most obvious impact players at 13 will fall among the cornerback, edge rusher, or wide receiver positions.

Makai Lemon just radiates LA fit. He is a productive wide receiver whose approach to his position is both physical and mental. He has a velcro set of hands, understands leverage, timing, how to set up routes with moves at the line of scrimmage, and can track a football like a missile launcher. He even does a respectable job at blocking, a deal-maker or breaker for LA.

"(Makai) Lemon is a good football player"

Rams GM Les Snead

That's as good as it gets before the draft for Rams fans. If he's still on the board, don't be surprised if Makai Lemon hears his name called out at the 13th overall selection.

As always, thanks for reading.