Dolphins Hosting Top Wide Receiver Prospect Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

Southern California's Makai Lemon visits Miami as team evaluates options to replace Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:53pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-stride, their body broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of teal, orange, and white, capturing the dynamic movement and energy of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a Dolphins wide receiver's explosive route-running, hinting at the team's search for a new playmaker in the 2026 NFL Draft.Miami Gardens Today

The Miami Dolphins are hosting top wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon for a pre-draft visit just 10 days before the 2026 NFL Draft. Lemon, a 5'11" 192-lb prospect from the University of Southern California, is considered a potential first-round pick and could help fill the void left by the departures of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle earlier this offseason.

Why it matters

The Dolphins hold two first-round picks in this year's draft, including the #11 and #30 overall selections. Adding a talented young wide receiver like Lemon could be a key priority as the team looks to reload its passing attack for the upcoming season.

The details

Lemon is described as a 'high-skill, high-volume slot receiver' by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, who compares him to Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown. Zierlein praises Lemon's ball skills, route running, and ability to win contested catches, though notes he needs to add more play strength to handle NFL press coverage.

  • Lemon is visiting the Dolphins on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

The players

Makai Lemon

A 5'11", 192-lb wide receiver prospect from the University of Southern California who is considered a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Tyreek Hill

Former Dolphins wide receiver who departed the team earlier this offseason.

Jaylen Waddle

Former Dolphins wide receiver who departed the team earlier this offseason.

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver who NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compares Makai Lemon to.

Lance Zierlein

NFL.com analyst who provided a scouting report on Makai Lemon.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Lance Zierlein, NFL.com Analyst

What’s next

The Dolphins will continue to evaluate Lemon and other top draft prospects ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, where they hold two first-round picks that could be used to address their needs at wide receiver.

The takeaway

The Dolphins' pre-draft visit with Makai Lemon underscores their need to find a young, talented wide receiver to help replace the production lost with the departures of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Lemon's skill set and potential fit with the team's offense make him an intriguing option with one of their two first-round selections.