Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins were predicted to draft a player who has received comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown
It is no secret that the Miami Dolphins roster is filled with holes filled with holes at multiple positions. Perhaps none stand out more than the wide receiver room. Over the past few seasons, the Dolphins had one of the strongest wide receiver duos in the NFL with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. After releasing Hill for salary reasons and trading Waddle to the Denver Broncos in exchange for draft capital, Miami has a glaring need for playmakers to support new quarterback Malik Willis.
Fortunately for Willis and the Dolphins offense, it does appear that Miami will add receivers heading into the 2026 season. “We’ve got seven in the first 100 picks. We’ll have receivers for Malik to throw to. The next time you talk after the draft and as we get the players here, I think you’re going to see we’ll get some good ones for him to throw to.”Head coach Jeff Hafley told Kay Adams on “Up & Adams.”
Now, USA Today’s Nate Davis has predicted the Dolphins selecting a receiver who has been compared to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown by a former NFL scout.
Miami Dolphins Predicted to Draft Makai Lemon
In his latest mock draft, Nate Davis has predicted the Dolphins will select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 11 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Davis wrote:
“WR Jaylen Waddle’s departure leaves a massive hole in the Fins’ passing game. Lemon would have been worthy of consideration here on merit after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs during his final college season. A slot machine extraordinaire, he’d immediately provide new Miami QB Malik Willis with a high-volume target – and, given the widespread comparisons Lemon draws to fellow former Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown, might also be the kind of culture influencer a rebuilding organization badly needs.”
Davis is not the first to compare Lemon to St. Brown, as former NFL scout turned draft analyst for NFL NetworkDaniel Jeremiah wrote of Lemon:
“Lemon is one of my favorite players in this draft. He is a wideout with a running back’s body and a linebacker’s temperament. He is at his best working in the slot. He wins with quickness off the line, understands how to tempo routes and consistently wins in traffic. He doesn’t waste steps and he can explode in and out of the break point. He plays bigger than his size, displaying several 50/50-ball wins on elevated throws. To see his entire repertoire, just throw on the Iowa tape. He was a craftsman in that game and couldn’t be covered (10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown). He is ultra-competitive after the catch, breaking tackles and fighting for yards. Overall, Lemon is going to draw a lot of comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and they are warranted.”
Potential Fit With Dolphins
As mentioned previously, the Dolphins have a need at receiver. For Miami, neither Waddle nor Hill spent a majority of the time in the slot, as they primarily played on the outside. However, drafting Lemon could be compared with Miami’s rationale for drafting Waddle during the 2021 NFL Draft.
At the time, Miami lacked playmakers for Tagovailoa, and receivers capable of creating separation. Waddle spent his rookie season primarily playing the slot, as he broke the NFL receptions record for a rookie.
While selecting Lemon would probably help Miami’s new quarterback, it remains to be seen whether the Dolphins value a receiver with their first selection in the first-round.