Eagles' first-round pick Makai Lemon faced backlash for his robotic demeanor during an NFL Combine interview. Critics on social media questioned his attitude, but it may serve as motivation for his performance.
Key points
Makai Lemon is the Eagles' first-round draft pick.
He faced criticism for his demeanor at the NFL Combine.
Social media reactions were overwhelmingly negative.
Lemon emphasizes the seriousness of football for his family's livelihood.
Makai LemonEagles
Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon swayed back and forth and stared into the crowd during an interview at the NFL Combine on Feb. 27. With a stern expression, he robotically answered questions about his goals, mindset and approach as a wide receiver.
“I’m trying to get in the end zone. I ain’t gonna let nobody in my way stop me from doing that.”
“This game is very serious. It’s the way I feed my family.”
The segment kick-started widespread negative reaction on social media, with ESPN’s post on TikTok receiving 481 comments, the vast majority of them critical of Lemon’s attitude.
“Whoever his agent is, he’s doing a terrible job.”
“The way he was getting hammered at the combine with the way he interviewed, that was so freaking annoying, man,” said Matt Gates, who trained Lemon during the pre-draft process at XPE Sports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “I see some of this crap, and I’m just like, man, ‘Get to know the kid, and you’ll fall in love with him.’”
Here’s what Gates knows to be true: Lemon’s intensity and confidence translate to the field — the interview wasn’t an act. That edge helps him offset his lack of size (5-11, 192 pounds) and elite speed to achieve success.
Last season, Lemon won the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s best wide receiver, after recording 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns at USC.
Now, the Eagles are betting he can become one of their best offensive players and eventually one of the league’s top wideouts. Philadelphia traded up three spots — from No. 23 to No. 20 — to select him in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Q&A
Why was Makai Lemon criticized during the NFL Combine?
Makai Lemon was criticized for his robotic demeanor and stern attitude while answering questions during the NFL Combine.
What was the reaction on social media to Makai Lemon's interview?
The reaction was largely negative, with ESPN's TikTok post about him receiving 481 comments, most of which were critical.
How does Makai Lemon view his approach to football?
Makai Lemon views football as a serious endeavor and emphasizes that it is how he supports his family.
What impact might the criticism have on Makai Lemon's performance?
The criticism may serve as motivation for Lemon, potentially fueling his determination to succeed on the field.
Related Articles
Sports
2026 Cocodona 250: Medical emergency results in runner's death during ultramarathon
Tragic death of a runner during the 2026 Cocodona 250 ultramarathon.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Cricket·Feature
Sanju Samson not in peak physical condition, says Sanjay Manjrekar; Cites Virat Kohli example
Sanjay Manjrekar advises Sanju Samson on fitness, citing Kohli's example.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Austin Reaves' struggles compound Lakers' uphill battle vs Thunder in NBA Playoffs
Austin Reaves' missed shot adds to Lakers' struggles vs Thunder in playoffs.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Golf·Feature
Meet the 15 golfers on the 2026 Haskins Award Postseason Watch List
Check out the 15 golfers nominated for the 2026 Haskins Award!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL·Feature
Could New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart flirt with 4,000 yards in 2026?
Is Jaxson Dart on track to throw for 4,000 yards in 2026?
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL·Recap
NFL player Stefon Diggs found not guilty of attacking personal chef
NFL player Stefon Diggs found not guilty of attacking his chef
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
In the 12 days since being drafted, Lemon has embraced his new city, and the fans have given him a warm welcome. He rang the Liberty Bell at a 76ers playoff game and paid homage to former Eagles Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles by choosing Foles’ No. 9 jersey, which Lemon received permission to wear.
“Just proud how he handled the whole situation, all the crap with his interview BS,” Gates said. “He’s going to come out on top and have a great rookie year.”
UCLA USC Football
UCLA USC Football
‘Silent assassin’
Gates didn’t know what to expect when he first began training Lemon in January. Over the last few years, he has trained countless prospects with a poor work ethic and a sense of entitlement. But that wasn’t the case with Lemon.
“He didn’t miss a single session,” Gates said. “He turned down tons of marketing deals and travel stuff throughout the process because he didn’t want to miss training. It’s pretty rare. I haven’t seen somebody like that in a long time.”
According to Gates, Lemon was “itching to run” at the combine, but Gates told Lemon to wait until his pro day. Delaying the run gave Lemon more time to work on his 40-yard dash technique.
“He was ready to freaking get after it,” Gates said.
According to The Athletic, NFL scouts clocked Lemon’s 40-yard dash between 4.48 and 4.53 seconds, a solid number for a wide receiver, but not to Lemon’s satisfaction. He always strives for more.
“If he’s missing split times, it pisses him off,” Gates said. “He’s not happy about it, but not in a way that’s going to affect what we do the next day or the next rep or anything like that. The way that he’s wired, you can tell he doesn’t like it. So when something doesn’t go right, you could tell that it pisses him off and he gets after it even harder. Which, in my opinion, is a good quality to have.”
During a practice last season, Lemon asked USC inside wide receivers coach Chad Savage to work with him on route-running releases off to the side while the team conducted a field-goal drill at practice. Lemon knew the drill only lasted two minutes, but Savage said his star wide receiver never wanted to waste a moment and “always got better at something.”
Lemon also made Savage put him through extra walkthroughs before games to help him gain a better understanding of the offensive concepts.
Savage saw Lemon take notes and ask plenty of questions during meetings, and always thought Lemon was the “ultimate competitor” on the field.
“He’s a silent assassin,” Savage said. “He’s a quiet kid in the building. He’ll have times where he’s joking around with his select few teammates. But when he’s in the building or we’re on the practice field, he’s all business.”
‘Wired to go the distance’
Lemon’s defining moment came in USC’s 26-21 victory over Iowa in November. He snagged 10 catches, including several tough grabs through contact, for 153 yards and a touchdown, helping the Trojans score 19 unanswered points.
“He’s got that swagger to him that’s going to be a difference maker,” Savage said.
While Lemon had the talent and production to get drafted higher in the first round, some teams may have been concerned that his size and speed would limit him to slot receiver. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman doesn’t share those concerns.
“Competitor,” Roseman said about what he likes about Lemon’s game. “Has the ability to separate in man coverage out of the slot. He can play outside.”
The Eagles expect Lemon to start next season alongside DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, and they are hoping that Lemon can open up the middle of the field in Sean Mannion’s new offense.
Philadelphia’s offense has lacked a consistent intermediate passing game over the last few years — especially last season when quarterback Jalen Hurts had only 28 attempts between the hashmarks, which ranked 28th in the league.
Lemon’s biggest strength is getting open across the middle: 75 out of his 108 targets last season were in between the numbers.
MORE BY
CAYDEN STEELE
With A.J. Brown expected to be traded to the Patriots next month, the pressure on Lemon to produce will be high.
Lemon has displayed the traits — strong hands, crisp route running and above-average blocking — to excel immediately. He’s also shown creativity and toughness as a runner, generating 502 yards after the catch this past season.
“He’ll continue getting better physically, but the wiring, that’s something you can’t teach, and not every football player has it,” Gates said. “Some guys are wired to just freaking go the distance. And that’s Makai.”
