Well, with all the speculation swirling about A.J. Brown’s future in Philadelphia, the team made things pretty clear for fans on Thursday night, trading up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select WR Makai Lemon out of USC. If Brown was still in the plan for this upcoming season, it’s hard to imagine Howie Roseman and Co. using a first round pick on another wide receiver.
This pick will also help long term as the Eagles’ super young defense will need some big contracts over the next few seasons and a younger offense as result will be needed to balance things out.
Lemon is just the latest in a long list of new receivers heading to Philadelphia this offseason, but he’s someone who should compliment DeVonta Smith well, and should give some quality depth to the room — even if Brown doesn’t end up being traded after June 1.
Theoretically, Lemon should fit this system with how the structure the pass game and utilize alignments. He’s at best when he has all 4 directions available at the top of the stem, and the Eagles will likely be utilizing more reduced splits as they condense the formations.
Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award, named first-team Associated Press All-American. Ranked eighth in the FBS with 1,156 receiving yards (79 receptions, 14.6 per), tied for ninth with 11 receiving TDs
161 seconds of Makai Lemon being tough to tackle pic.twitter.com/z9yE926QAt
A.J. Brown's exit may be an inevitability, but my educated guess here is that the #Eagles trading up for WR Makai Lemon was more about value than need. They saw a first round talent fall in a weak draft class and took action … especially after some of the tackles they targeted…
My pre-draft scouting report on Makai Lemon 👇Looks like another step in the direction of attacking the middle of the field. I'll be really interested to see what the new offense looks like and to see what the trade compensation for AJ Brown is. Now I just have to prepare… pic.twitter.com/oSYYVqKONq
New #Eagles WR Makai Lemon is a highly competitive receiver who has drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown and is coming off a season with 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs. https://t.co/uJaC2VzmJD
Makai Lemon was No. 14 on the consensus big board.Eagles landed him at No. 20. This follows Howie Roseman's trend in recent years. https://t.co/ByFKrscuSr
Damn it, I love that for the Eagles. Their GM is so good.
Eagles WR investments this offseason: – Trade up to take Makai Lemon– Trade for and extend Dontayvion Wicks– Sign Hollywood Brown and Elijah MooreSeems like foreshadowing…
Philly is going to go bonkers and the A.J. Brown buzz just went into overdrive.
GREAT pick by the Eagles.Also, happy trails AJ Brown
2021: Eagles trade up with Cowboys to select DeVonta Smith2026: Eagles trade up with Cowboys to select Makai Lemon
The best stat about Eagles WR Makai Lemon — just three drops in three college seasons! #flyeaglesfly
The Eagles' WR room if A.J. Brown is indeed traded: DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey
"I think he is going to be a superstar in the league" 🤩@MoveTheSticks | @kurt13warner pic.twitter.com/cNj8vZ1Ksp