Makai Lemon, Eagles Agree to Rookie Contract with $11.5M Signing Bonus After 2026 NFL Draft

Makai Lemon is officially a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The rookie wideout signed his four-year, $20.8 million contract on Thursday that includes an $11.5 million signing bonus, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, after being the No. 20 overall pick at this year's NFL draft. The deal includes a fifth-year team option.

Lemon, 21, caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in the 2025 season, emerging as one of the better wideouts in the nation. The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the No. 14 overall player in this year's draft on its final big board and the No. 4 wideout.

Grading Makai Lemon Pick

06:39

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. added, "I absolutely love Lemon's game. I had him as the No. 11 prospect on my board. He's a true baller who attacks the ball in the air and creates after the catch."

That made Lemon an excellent value selection for an Eagles team that completely reworked its wideout room this offseason.

With A.J. Brown's departure seemingly an inevitability all offseason, the Birds traded for Dontayvion Wicks, signed both Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore and drafted Lemon and tight end Eli Stowers. DeVonta Smith will assume the No. 1 receiver duties, while Lemon is likely to largely operate out of the slot.

But if Lemon can handle a role where he lands up all over the formation, creating mismatches in the same vein of a Puka Nacua or Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Eagles' offense could be scary next season. Much will depend on how a reworked offensive staff, led by new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, takes advantage of players like Lemon, Smith, superstar running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert.

Optimism is high in Philadelphia, even after last year's disappointing season. Lemon's addition is a big part of that enthusiasm.