Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle facing Los Angeles Rams
All eyes had been on the Los Angeles Rams to draft a top-tier wide receiver such as USC‘s Makai Lemon, Ohio State‘s Carnell Tate or Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson.
But with the March 17 trade of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins to the Denver Broncos, the Rams would pivot toward another position, according to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s updated mock draft.
Kiper shows the Rams shifting their focus to draft offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa from the University of Miami with the 13th overall pick.
“The dominoes of the Jaylen Waddle trade impacted the Rams’ pick,” Kiper wrote on March 17. “I had Jordyn Tyson here as their new WR3 behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but there’s no way Miami would let the top-tier receiver slip past No. 11. Instead, I’m pivoting the Rams’ selection to the right tackle position.
“Mauigoa started 42 games in college, over which time he put together some really good tape,” Kiper wrote. “He uses his strength to dominate pass rushers, and he can clear out running lanes. Warren McClendon Jr. is under contract for only one more season, and run blocking is so important in the Rams’ offense.”
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon
GettyUSC wide receiver Makai Lemon
The Los Angeles Rams Appeared to Be Drawn to Makai Lemon
Rams general manager Les Snead attended USC’s pro day on March 12. Snead had only good things to say about Lemon: “He’s a guy that makes watching football feel fun.”
In a March 16 Yahoo Sports story, Jaron Spor wrote about what drafting Lemon would look like for the Rams.
“If the Rams select the Lemon in the first round, it could signal a long-term strategy to maintain one of the NFL’s most explosive passing attacks,” Spor wrote. “The potential move would also provide a succession plan at wide receiver.”
The Broncos traded their 2026 1st round pick (30th overall) and 3rd and 4th round picks to Miami for star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a 4th round pick.
This trade thins the Dolphins’ wide receiver room and widens the opportunity to draft a wide receiver in the first round.
Jaylen Waddle’s Departure Opens Miami Dolphins Window to Draft Makai Lemon Before Los Angeles Rams
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon
GettyUSC wide receiver Makai Lemon
The Miami Dolphins now possess the 11th and 30th overall picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, following the acquisition of the Broncos’ 1st round pick.
Before Waddle’s departure, the Dolphins were expected to address the defense in the draft, but now with two first-round picks and lack of a true WR1, they are in desperate need to address the wide receiver position group.
Yahoo Sports’ Glenn Kaplan addressed the Dolphins’ need to bolster their wide receiver room following the loss of Waddle and Tyreek Hill. He predicts that the Dolphins will snag Lemon if he’s still available at pick 11.
“Lemon runs great routes and also had great hands,” Kaplan wrote. “Miami needs a new number one wide receiver with Waddle and Hill no longer with the team. The Dolphins are starting all over. Lemon would be a reliable target for quarterback Malik Willis.”