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By Andrew Wright
Contributing Sports Writer
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The New England Patriots have rolled out the red carpet for second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
An offseason that included signings of Stefon Diggs and more on the offensive side of the ball, Maye has been surrounded with excellent weapons. That could be multiplied in next season's draft, and ESPN's Jordan Reid believes New England will do just that.
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Reid has the Patriots selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 22 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reid cited Lemon's ability to play all over the field, a much-needed addition to the New England offense.
"Even with the emergence of Kayshon Boutte, and free agent signing Stefon Diggs recapturing his pre-injury form, there's no such thing as too many receivers for quarterback Drake Maye, especially with Diggs turning 32 in November," Reid wrote. "Lemon is a do-it-all target who can play the slot and outside. He's highly productive (44 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns this season), and his body control and catch radius help him make miraculous catches look routine."
Lemon's breakout season for the Trojans comes as no surprise, as he racked up 764 yards and three touchdowns last season. He went into the season expected to be one of the top receivers in the nation and he has proved that to be correct.
Another weapon for Maye next season could be the exact move needed to cement him as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL for not only next season, but for the foreseeable future.
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