USC Football NFL Draft Live Updates: Tracking Every Trojan Taken in 2026

The 2026 NFL Draft is upon us, and for USC Trojans fans, the weekend is about more than just the glitz of Green Room suits. After a 9-4 campaign in 2025 that felt more like a tease than a breakthrough under Lincoln Riley, the program is sending a robust class of talent to the professional ranks. With 10 players eligible and as many as six potential draftees, the spotlight shines brightest on a wide receiver who could break the mold.

Could Makai Lemon be the first wide receiver off the board in the entire 2026 NFL Draft? That is the burning question as we track every Trojan selected. Lemon’s meteoric rise from a viral combine moment to a potential top-15 pick is just one of several compelling storylines. We’ll provide live updates on landing spots, draft capital, and expert analysis on how these former Trojans fit their new NFL homes.

The Makai Lemon Factor: A Receiver Built for the Modern NFL

Let’s start with the headliner. Makai Lemon enters the draft not just as USC’s top prospect, but as a legitimate candidate to be the first wide receiver selected. His journey from a productive, yet sometimes overlooked, slot receiver to a combine superstar is the stuff of draft lore. If you haven’t read our required reading: Makai Lemon NFL combine interview, revisited: Why USC receiver went viral, the short version is that his 4.28-second 40-yard dash and fluid route-running drills turned heads in Indianapolis.

But Lemon is more than just a track star. At USC, he was a chain-mover and a deep threat, averaging over 15 yards per catch in 2025. His ability to separate at the line of scrimmage and track the ball over his shoulder makes him a perfect fit for a vertical offense. Teams like the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders—all desperate for a true WR1—are likely circling his name.

Prediction: Lemon goes in the top 20 picks. If he’s the first receiver taken, it will validate a USC program that has struggled to produce elite NFL talent at the position since the days of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marqise Lee. He projects as a Day 1 starter in a slot or Z-receiver role.

Tracking the Trojans: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Beyond Lemon, USC’s draft class has depth, particularly at the skill positions. Here’s a live tracker of every Trojan taken, with analysis on their fit and NFL ceiling.

Round 1: The Lemon Pick (Projected)

Landing Spot: TBD (Likely top 15)
Analysis: If Lemon goes here, he joins a short list of USC receivers drafted in the first round. His immediate impact will be as a return specialist and a YAC threat. The team that drafts him gets a player who can win on all three levels.

Rounds 2-3: The Wideout Duo Continues

Zachariah Branch, the explosive junior who declared early, is the other Trojan receiver expected to hear his name in the first three rounds. Branch is a different player than Lemon—more of a gadget weapon and return man. He projects as a second-round pick with a high floor due to his versatility.

• Branch’s fit: Best for a team that uses motion and jet sweeps (think Miami Dolphins or San Francisco 49ers).
• Potential landing spots: Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers.

Analysis: Having two receivers taken in the top 75 picks is a massive win for USC’s recruiting pitch. It proves that Lincoln Riley’s system, while not winning national titles, still produces NFL-ready weapons.

Rounds 4-5: The Defensive Backs and the Big Men

USC’s defense, often a weak point, has a few intriguing prospects. Safety Kamari Ramsey is a physical enforcer who could go in the fourth round. Cornerback Jacobe Covington has the length and press-man skills that NFL teams covet, but he needs to clean up his technique. He’s a fifth-round flyer with starting potential.

On the offensive line, guard Emmanuel Pregnon is a mauler in the run game. He’s a mid-round steal for a zone-blocking scheme. Don’t be surprised if a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills grabs him in Round 5 to add depth.

• Ramsey: Special teams ace early, eventual starter.
• Covington: Developmental corner with plus athleticism.
• Pregnon: Immediate backup with starter upside by Year 2.

Rounds 6-7: The Sleepers and Specialists

The Trojans have a few later-round gems. Running back Quinten Joyner is a powerful, one-cut runner who could be a goal-line specialist in the NFL. He’s not flashy, but he runs with pad level and vision. Linebacker Mason Cobb is a tackling machine who will make a living on special teams.

Kicker Denis Lynch could also be a late-round or UDFA target. He has a booming leg, but consistency is a concern.

• Joyner: Late-round pick (R6-R7).
• Cobb: Priority UDFA or R7 pick.
• Lynch: Camp leg with potential.

Expert Analysis: What This Draft Means for Lincoln Riley and USC

This draft class is a double-edged sword for the Trojans. On one hand, seeing 10 players get a shot at the NFL—including a potential top-10 pick in Lemon—validates the talent evaluation and development happening in Los Angeles. On the other hand, it underscores the program’s failure to turn that talent into wins. A 9-4 record with this much draft capital is a bitter pill.

The narrative shift: If Lemon becomes a star and Branch is a productive pro, it will fuel the argument that Riley’s system is a wide receiver factory. However, the lack of defensive players taken in the first two rounds (likely zero) highlights the gap between USC and the elite programs like Georgia or Alabama. The Trojans must start producing NFL-ready defenders to compete for a College Football Playoff spot.

My take: This class is a win for individual players, but a mixed report card for the program. The 2026 draft could be remembered as the moment USC proved it can produce elite offensive skill talent, but the absence of a dominant defensive pick will haunt the narrative until Riley fixes that side of the ball.

Final Predictions and the UDFA Watch

As the draft winds down, keep an eye on the undrafted free agent (UDFA) market. Several Trojans will sign priority deals. Offensive lineman Mason Murphy and edge rusher Solomon Tuliaupupu are candidates. Murphy has position flexibility (guard/tackle), which is gold for NFL teams. Tuliaupupu, if healthy, has the frame to develop into a rotational pass rusher.

Potential UDFA signings:

• Mason Murphy (OL) – Likely to a team with a zone scheme (Rams, Packers).
• Solomon Tuliaupupu (EDGE) – Practice squad candidate with upside.
• Eric Gentry (LB) – Length and coverage skills for a 3-4 defense.

Live update tracker: We’ll be updating this page in real-time as names are called. Check back for instant analysis on every USC Trojan selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Bottom Line

For USC fans, this draft weekend is a reminder of the talent that flows through Heritage Hall. Makai Lemon has the chance to be the first Trojan receiver taken in the top 10 since Nelson Agholor in 2015. But the real story will be how many of these players become impactful pros versus how many are just college stars. If Lemon, Branch, and a defensive back or two hit, this class will be remembered as a turning point for the program. If not, it’s just another “what if” for a team that always has the talent but rarely has the trophies.

Stay locked here for every pick, every trade, and every Trojan who hears his name called.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.