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Tim McManus
Multiple Authors
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles made a trade with the division rival Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 20 pick in the NFL draft.
The Cowboys received the No. 23 pick and two fourth-round selections (Nos. 114 and 137) from Philadelphia for the 20th pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The addition of Lemon is yet another indication that A.J. Brown is likely to be traded at some point. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Brown is likely to be traded to the New England Patriots on or after June 1. The two sides have discussed a deal, but neither has been willing to commit to it until after June 1, when Brown’s $40 million salary cap charge will be split between this year and next.
“Again, A.J. is a member of the Eagles. We don’t have any trades that have been made or that are done,” general manager Howie Roseman said. “And I think for us, we’re taking this one day at a time. We’re going to look to improve the team tomorrow and we’ll continue to address anything that we have to with our roster, not only through this draft weekend but we’ll continue to look for ways to improve the team throughout the offseason and as we get into training camp.”
Philadelphia had to fend off its intrastate rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to land the Biletnikoff Award winner. Lemon confirmed on a conference call with local media that he was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were about to be on the clock at pick 21, when a call came in from the Eagles saying they had traded up to select him.
“I feel like everything happened for a reason,” he said. “They traded up so it means a lot that they really wanted me. I’m all-in and they’re going to get everything that I’ve got.”
Lemon wasn’t expected to even be in range. According to ESPN Analytics’ Draft Predictor, entering the draft there was a 4% chance he would be available at pick 20.
Lemon had 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season to earn All-America honors. He had 137 catches for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns in his college career. He posted 150-plus receiving yards in four games this past season, the most by a USC player since Drake London in 2021, and emerged as one of the nation’s top slot targets with 1,281 yards out of the slot since 2024.
“We kind of had a really good sense of who we thought the first 15 guys would be [off the board],” Roseman said. “One of those guys did not go in the first 15 and he was available to us. When we saw that, it was just trying to figure out where we can move up.”
Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni stated they believe Lemon can play both inside and outside at the next level.
“His ability to separate, insane ability to catch the ball in contested situations. I love his toughness,” Sirianni said. “Insanely competitive, so there’s a lot to like. Really excited that he’s added to our roster.”
The Eagles also have signed free agent wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore and acquired wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks in a trade with the Green Bay Packers this offseason, filling out a room that will likely be without A.J. Brown before long.
