How Eagles stole an ‘insanely’ tough competitor — and why other teams passed on him

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles entered the 2026 NFL Draft with eight picks and now are down to six.

They traded two 2026 fourth-round picks to the Cowboys to move up three spots — from No. 23 to No. 20 — for USC star wide receiver Makai Lemon.

Those two picks were valuable assets. The Eagles have several needs on both sides of the ball, and giving away those picks potentially sacrifices depth at other positions, which speaks to how much Eagles general manager Howie Roseman liked Lemon.

“Competitor,” Roseman said Thursday night when describing what he likes about Lemon’s game. “Has the ability to separate in man coverage out of the slot. He can play outside. Physical player. Really good with the ball in his hands. Really good hands. Good in zone coverage. Has really good instincts.”

The Steelers were on the phone with Lemon and were ready to draft him with the 21st pick before Philadelphia came swooping in. The Eagles ranked Lemon as one of their top 15 players and once he started to fall, they set their sights on him.

Lemon was ranked as the 14th player on the consensus board, and most draft analysts projected him to go in the top 16 picks. He won the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to college football’s best wide receiver. He looked like a superstar at USC and has the potential to become a star wideout in the NFL. So why was he available with the 20th pick?

Some NFL teams might have been concerned that Lemon’s 5-11, 198-pound frame would limit his potential on the outside and passed on him.

The Eagles are confident Lemon can play on the outside despite him playing 75.6 percent of his collegiate snaps in the slot.

“Insane ability to catch the ball in contested situations,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said about Lemon’s strengths. “I love his toughness. I think this guy is a tough, tough football player with the way he carries the football ... and how he blocks. Insanely competitive. So there’s a lot to like. Really excited that he’s added to our roster.”

ESPN reported the Eagles are expected to trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Patriots on or after June 1. Lemon could help replace some of Brown’s production as a rookie. USC wanted the ball in Lemon’s hands, and he made the most of it. Last season, he racked up 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.