The Eagles have adjusted their offense and, in a matter of months, have significantly upgraded the wide receiver room while preparing for a departure. In a move that'll certainly signal the end of the A.J. Brown era in Philadelphia, the Eagles traded picks No. 23, 114 & 137 to Dallas for pick 20 and a 7th round pick. The Eagles then selected Southern Cal star wide receiver Makai Lemon. With the move, Philadelphia currently has Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Dontayvion Wicks, Johnny Wilson, and others among a deep, wide receiver corps.
The expectation is that A.J. Brown will be traded after June 1, when his dead cap hit drops significantly.
Lemon was the best receiver in college football last season, taking home the Biletnikoff Award. His 90.8 PFF grade led all wideouts in college football. The USC junior wide receiver was dominant for the Trojans this season, while serving as Jayden Maiava's favorite target in the team's high-powered passing attack. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding wide receiver in college football after he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon had just three touchdown catches in his first two college seasons combined.
With the move complete, here is the national reaction to the newest addition.
“I ain’t doing no playin”Makai Lemon says he is ready to get to work https://t.co/3AvdkaTtVm
When life gives you Lemon(s) pic.twitter.com/HEspZooTR7
MAKAI LEMON. PHILADELPHIA EAGLE.@NewEraCap | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/JxyaBbwRay
Eagles select USC WR Makai Lemon with 20th overall pick of 2026 NFL Draft https://t.co/WcalqU5I26
The #Eagles trade up and select #USC WR Makai Lemon. With AJ Brown likely headed elsewhere...
Makai Lemon is headed to Philly 🦅The Eagles traded up with the Cowboys to take the USC WR at No. 20 overall 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DV9gDtMB6L
New Eagles WR Makai Lemon is tough to tackle. 👀 pic.twitter.com/g7C5Dzwc9l
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) April 24, 2026
Makai Lemon very emotional after the Eagles trade up in the 1st round to draft the USC WR 20th Overall #MakaiLemon pic.twitter.com/NLR6JWCzA2
Lemon (5-11, 192), 21, was a 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner. He closed out his USC career with a career-high 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. https://t.co/dJgIbUmsIx
The #Eagles will free up $7M of 2026 cap space per the expected Post June 1st trade of WR A.J. Brown.Their 3 new WR additions:Makai Lemon: $3.7MDontayvion Wicks: $2.3MMarquise Brown: $2M
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: NFL World reacts to Eagles drafting Makai Lemon at No. 20