Jets' Makai Lemon NFL Draft decision appears to be vindicated

Many New York Jets fans had their hearts set on using the No. 16 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. Darren Mougey opted to use that pick to select Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq while addressing his desire for a wide receiver with Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30 overall.

Lemon would come off the board at No. 20 overall after the Philadelphia Eagles traded up for him. Many Jets fans started to moan after forgoing Lemon, but the start of the 2026 season may vindicate this Mougey decision.

Through three games in which he has played a good chunk of offensive snaps for Philadelphia, Lemon has touched the ball from scrimmage eight times and amassed just 33 yards. Cooper has 30 yards to his name, and he only played on one drive in the team's first game before his injury. Sadiq is fresh off his first 100-yard game as a pro.

New York Jets look wise for passing on Makai Lemon in NFL Draft

Lemon isn't being used in the most effective way, and he has been getting open more than the stats would indicate, but that only excuses so much. Lemon was criticized pre-draft for a lack of great speed and physicality at the line of scrimmage, and that appears to be haunting him right now.

When combined with missing a good chunk of the offseason program with an injury and looking like he is not quite himself, Lemon (who will still be a very good pro player once he gets his feet under him) may not have provided the immediate impact the Jets wanted from their second first-rounder.

The Jets only got one drive out of Cooper, but his 30-yard catch in a win against the Tennessee Titans showed that all of the playmaking after the catch and hard-charging style that made him a national champion at Indiana. He was not going to make it to the second round. When healthy, he'll jump right back to the starting lineup.

The New York Jets seemingly love Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq

Sadiq, who also missed time in the offseason with an injury, broke out in the team's Week 3 shootout against the Detroit Lions. After never hitting the 100-yard mark in any of his college games at Oregon, Sadiq caught seven passes for 105 yards and his first touchdown reception. That touchdown came on a ridiculous play in which Sadiq went almost parallel to the ground for the grab.

If the rookies continue to take steps forward in their development, and Adonai Mitchell proves that his hot start to the season is not a mirage, there's a non-zero chance the Jets will have four different members of their skill position group locked in for the future.

Mougey has made his fair share of mistakes in the last few years, but the early returns suggest that not giving in and using the No. 16 pick on Lemon was the right move for this Jets roster.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow