{"id":142515,"date":"2026-01-20T08:49:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=142515"},"modified":"2026-01-20T08:49:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T08:49:55","slug":"chiefs-land-new-yac-demon-to-boost-mahomes-firepower-a-fresh-playmaker-is-in-kansas-city-ready-to-terrorize-defenses-after-the-catch-and-give-patrick-mahomes-another-weapo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=142515","title":{"rendered":"CHIEFS LAND NEW YAC \u2018DEMON\u2019 TO BOOST MAHOMES\u2019 FIREPOWER. A fresh playmaker is in Kansas City, ready to terrorize defenses after the catch and give Patrick Mahomes another weapon to shred opponents. Expectations are sky-high and the AFC just got even scarier..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\">\n<figure><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2239662321-e1768889877761.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2239662321-e1768889877761.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2239662321-e1768889877761.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2239662321-e1768889877761.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Chiefs Prediction Lands New YAC 'Demon' Playmaker for Patrick Mahomes\" width=\"780\" height=\"440\" \/><\/em><\/figure>\n<div>\n<p><em>Getty<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>For the first time since trading up to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs own a top 10 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and some of the latest rumors actually have KC potentially targeting another wide receiver.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>On January 19, A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman fueled the WR fire a bit, predicting that the Chiefs would select USC pass-catcher Makai Lemon at No. 9 overall. And the decision does, in part, have to do with the off-the-field claims regarding current WR1 Rashee Rice.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAs much as adding a player like Lemon would be about the uncertainty surrounding Chiefs WR Rashee Rice\u2019s off-field situation, it\u2019d also be about replacing production lost should Travis Kelce retire,\u201d Goldman began, explaining the prediction.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s generally the type of move that could solidify a position group that has struggled to take shape since 2022 and give a new wide receiver coach the tools to succeed right off the bat,\u201d he wrote. \u201cIn multiple simulations, players like Ohio State\u2019s Carnell Tate and Arizona State\u2019s Jordyn Tyson were off the board by pick No. 9. Lemon, however, was available 80% of the time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><em>Why Makai Lemon Could Be the Perfect NFL Draft Fit for the Chiefs in 2026<\/em><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_5723506\">\n<p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2233577026-e1768891011429.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" alt=\"Chiefs Prediction Lands New YAC 'Demon' Playmaker for Patrick Mahomes\" width=\"780\" height=\"440\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5723506\" data-lazy-load=\"\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5723506\"><em>GettyUSC wide receiver Makai Lemon.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>\u201cLemon is one of the many \u2018don\u2019t overthink it\u2019 prospects in the early goings of this draft class,\u201d Goldman continued in his mock draft article. \u201cHe\u2019ll have his detractors because of his size, as he\u2019s expected to measure sub-5-foot-11. He\u2019ll also have those who downplay his ability because of the high percentage of snaps he plays in the slot. However, he\u2019ll be just 22 years old during his rookie season.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>If age and potential aren\u2019t enough reasons to draft Lemon, Goldman also detailed his greatest attributes as a wide receiver.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201c[Lemon\u2019s] 3.13 yards per route run ranks the highest of any receiver in the class,\u201d the reporter stated. \u201cHe has proven capable of defeating both zone and man coverages. He\u2019s an absolute demon with the ball in his hands, forcing 21 missed tackles, which ranks No. 2 among wide receiver prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. He averaged 6.8 yards after the catch per reception.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Goldman concluded that \u201cLemon might be on the smaller side, but he certainly doesn\u2019t play like it, boasting insane body control, physicality, ball skills, hands, and leaping ability on contested throws.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cPut it in the area code, and he\u2019s coming down with it,\u201d he added, and that\u2019s magic to the ears of Mahomes.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><em>Makai Lemon Would Give Patrick Mahomes &amp; the Chiefs a Tremendous Young Trio of WRs<\/em><\/h2>\n<p><em>Assuming Rice doesn\u2019t get himself in more hot water with the league, a pick like Lemon could really take this offense to the next level.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>With Kelce most likely retiring in either 2026 or 2027, Lemon would slot in as yet another \u201cYAC\u201d \u2014 or yards after catch \u2014 threat behind Rice and another former first-round talent with big-play ability, Xavier Worthy. Together, that would give KC one of the most dangerous wide receiver trios in football.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>And that doesn\u2019t even take into account 2025 draft pick Jalen Royals, and anyone else general manager Brett Veach might either re-sign or bring in.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Of course, if the Chiefs decide to dedicate more resources to wide receiver in round one of the NFL draft, they\u2019d be ignoring positions like defensive line, offensive tackle, and running back.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>It\u2019s a particularly strong D-line class in 2026, so a position like edge rusher or defensive tackle could certainly be Veach\u2019s pick. There\u2019s also a superstar running back in the making who could be available at No. 9 overall, and that\u2019s Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Still, drafting Lemon would be ultra-exciting in its own right. You can bet that Veach and the powers that be will at least consider the \u201cdemon\u201d of a playmaker if he\u2019s on the board at No. 9.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Michael Obermuller covers the NFL as an Associate Editor for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the NFL breaking news operation, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getty Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. For the first time since trading up to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs own a&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":142519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142515","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>CHIEFS LAND NEW YAC \u2018DEMON\u2019 TO BOOST MAHOMES\u2019 FIREPOWER. A fresh playmaker is in Kansas City, ready to terrorize defenses after the catch and give Patrick Mahomes another weapon to shred opponents. 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