The Minnesota Vikings have done an admirable job addressing their roster this offseason. They signed Kyler Murray. They kept Aaron Jones. They added pieces to the secondary. But one position remains conspicuously unsettled: the third wide receiver spot behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency . Tai Felton, a third-round pick in 2025, is currently penciled in as the WR3, but he had just three receptions last season and played only 46 offensive snaps . The Vikings run a significant number of three-wide receiver sets . They need a reliable option.
The upcoming NFL Draft, which begins April 23, offers a solution. And according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the perfect prospect could be available exactly when the Vikings are on the clock at No. 18.
The Rapoport Report: Lemon in the 16-18 Range
On April 10, Rapoport shared his expectations for the first round of the draft, specifically regarding the wide receiver class.
“My best guess here is that two receivers go in the Top 15,” Rapoport said during his appearance on “The Insiders.” “Then the third receiver, who, at this point, I would say there’s a pretty decent chance is Makai Lemon from USC, ends up being the third receiver.
“I know a lot of teams like him. A lot of teams compare him to Amon-Ra St. Brown. I would expect him to go probably just after 15. So after 15 is 16, and then after that, 17, 18. That is a pretty good spot potentially for Makai Lemon.”
The logic aligns with how the draft board is expected to fall. Rapoport noted that teams have other needs—tackles, guards, edge rushers, cornerbacks—that could push a receiver of Lemon’s caliber down to the Vikings .
The Prospect: Why Lemon Fits
Makai Lemon is not a consolation prize. He is a legitimate first-round talent who, in many other draft classes, would be a top-10 lock.
ESPN’s Playmaker Score projects Lemon to average 671 receiving yards per season over his first five NFL years, ranking him as the top wide receiver in this class . In his junior season at USC, he recorded 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns .
Scouts praise his physical playing style and his ability to create separation. At 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he is built for the slot but has the versatility to play outside . His most notable trait? His hands. Evaluators describe him as having “some of the strongest hands in the draft” . He doesn’t drop passes.
The comparison to Amon-Ra St. Brown is fitting. Both are precise route runners with excellent body control and the ability to win in traffic. Jefferson and Addison stretch the field vertically; Lemon could thrive underneath, moving the chains and keeping drives alive.
The Case Against Drafting a Receiver
Of course, there are arguments against using the 18th pick on a wide receiver.
The Vikings have other needs. Defensive tackle is a glaring hole after the releases of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave . Safety is uncertain with Harrison Smith’s future undecided . Cornerback depth is always a concern .
Furthermore, Jordan Addison is entering the third year of his rookie contract. The Vikings face a decision soon about whether to extend him long-term. Drafting another first-round receiver could complicate the salary cap picture down the line.
But the counterargument is simple: the NFL is a passing league. Three-receiver sets are the base offense. And the drop-off after Jefferson and Addison is steep. Felton is unproven. Behind him, there is little else .
If a player of Lemon’s caliber is available, and if the Vikings believe he can be a Day 1 starter and a long-term contributor, passing on him would be a mistake.
The Veteran Alternative: Stefon Diggs and the Legal Cloud
If the Vikings decide to go the veteran route, a familiar name has emerged. CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell recently predicted that Minnesota could target Stefon Diggs to fill the WR3 role .
The fit is logical. Diggs began his career in Minnesota. He knows the organization. He would be reuniting with a team that is closer to contention than the Patriots team he just left. And he would be motivated to prove himself after a tumultuous season.
But there is a massive complication.
Diggs is facing felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charges following an alleged incident with his personal chef in December . He has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney maintains he is “completely innocent” . However, a trial date has been set for May 4 .
Until his legal situation is resolved, no team will sign him. And even if he is exonerated, the NFL could still impose a suspension under its personal conduct policy.
The Vikings could wait. They could monitor the situation and sign Diggs later in the offseason if the legal clouds clear. But they cannot enter the draft relying on that outcome.
The Verdict: Draft Lemon, Solve the Position Long-Term
The veteran free agent market for wide receivers is thin. Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins have been mentioned as possibilities, but both are in their mid-30s and are short-term solutions .
Makai Lemon is a long-term solution.
He would step into the WR3 role as a rookie, learn from two of the best in Jefferson and Addison, and be ready to take on a larger role if the Vikings cannot extend Addison. He fits the offense. He fits the timeline.
And if Rapoport is correct, he will be available when the Vikings pick at No. 18.
The Vikings have nine draft picks. They have the capital to trade up or down. But sometimes, the best move is the simplest one: stay put, take the best player available, and fill a need.
Makai Lemon is that player. The Vikings should not pass him up.