Makai Lemon to Eagles After Cowboys Trade, NFL Fans React to WR Draft Pick amid A.J. Brown Rumors

The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing in one of the top wide receivers from the 2026 NFL draft after reportedly considering a trade for A.J. Brown.

Former USC star Makai Lemon went to the Eagles with the No. 20 pick during Thursday's first round in Pittsburgh.

The Eagles traded up to No. 20 in order to select Lemon. The selection came after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Brown is "likely" to be traded to the New England Patriots this June.

Some fans saw the decision to bring in Lemon as a sign Brown is headed out of Philadelphia.

Lemon was ranked as the draft's No. 14 overall prospect, as well as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, on Bleacher Report's final big board.

Tyson went to the New Orleans Saints with the No. 8 pick earlier in Thursday's first round.

Lemon played at both cornerback and wide receiver early in his USC career before his first season as a full-time starting wide receiver in 2025.

He finished that junior campaign having racked up 1,156 receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns in 12 games with Lincoln Riley and the Trojans.

Makai Lemon highlights

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He measured in at 5'11 1/8" and 192 pounds at the February scouting combine and ran an unofficial 40-yard dash for scouts in the range of 4.48 seconds to 4.53 seconds, per The Athletic's Dane Brugler.

B/R NFL scout Damian Parson named Parker Washington and Amon Ra-St. Brown as comps for Lemon, who he described as "a compact, competitive slot receiver with strong hands, great route feel, and high-level run-after-catch ability."

"Lemon plays both in the slot and outside as the Z-receiver but projects best as a predominant slot target and chain mover in the NFL," Parson wrote. "His toughness, spatial awareness, and tackle-breaking prowess allow him to consistently gain yards after the catch."

Lemon will now slot into a receiving room also featuring DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks. What role he takes on with his new team will hinge at least in part on whether A.J. Brown is traded later this offseason.