NFL Draft Grades: Eagles score some high marks for their first-round draft pick

“Analysis:

Even with  Zack Baun  and  Nolan Smith  already in the fold, Howie Roseman moved up from No. 32 for another talented SEC defender. Giving one of the team’s four fifth-round picks to Kansas City to acquire Campbell was surely a no-brainer for the GM.

Campbell, like Baun, can play inside or outside, possessing both the strength to take on linemen and play the run and the quickness to go sideline to sideline. I think he’ll show more pass-rush skills than he did at Alabama, emulating Baun’s career path.”

— Chad Reuter

CBS Sports

Grade: A

“Trading up to select a receiver effectively cements the idea that A.J. Brown is on the way out. The Eagles will reportedly ship their star pass-catcher to the Patriots later this offseason, so it makes sense to find a replacement. It was far from a guarantee that Lemon, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner as college football’s top wide receiver, would be available this late in the first round, so moving up three spots to get him is justifiable and makes this a great value pick.”

— Carter Bahns

FOX Sports

Grade: B-

“Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman lived up to his reputation for making moves, giving up a handful of selections to move up three spots to select USC receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20. With the expectation that Philadelphia will move on from No 1 receiver A.J. Brown, the Eagles made another move to beef up the receiver room once he’s gone with the versatile Lemon, who can play slot and on the perimeter. The Eagles also traded for Dontayvion Wicks, along with signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. While Lemon’s a good pick, the Eagles gave up a significant haul to move up three spots to get him, with other talented receivers still available.”

— Eric Williams

USA Today

Grade: A-

“Well, there’s clearly a post-A.J Brown plan being enacted in Philadelphia. No one will confuse Lemon with the bulky Brown, but he could help an Eagles offense facing plenty of uncertainty on firmer ground. The Biletnikoff Award winner can provide Jalen Hurts with instant solutions in the underneath to intermediate area while allowing DeVonta Smith to become the attack’s featured player. If June wasn’t already circled for an expected deal, it should be now.”

— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

Yahoo! Sports

Grade: C

“Lemon should be a quality starter for the Eagles and this probably shows that A.J. Brown will be headed elsewhere at the start of the summer. This will be an interesting fit for the Eagles with Jalen Hurts moving from Brown to Lemon (should that trade happen), but this will keep starting quality talent in their wide receiver room, which was a priority for the Eagles this offseason.”

— Charles McDonald

Sports Illustrated

Grade: A–

**“**The Eagles needed a WR2 and couldn’t trade up to get the offensive tackles they desired. Lemon is still one of the top wideouts in the draft and was the second wideout taken behind Carnell Tate (No. 4 overall).

When the Eagles trade up in the draft, it’s for an impact player — as has been shown over the past five years. They haven’t messed on DeVonta Smith, Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Jihaad Campbell — four starters (three premium players) on this roster.

Lemon has the same trajectory as those four, and should thrive learning with Smith. Eagles wide receiver coach Aaron Moorehead will get a high draft pick to develop as well, and has been credited for developing Smith into a three-time 1,000-yard wideout.

He plays similar to Smith and Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown, which is a massive plus for the Eagles.

The only reason this pick wasn’t an A+ is because the Eagles missed on Kadyn Proctor, Vega Ioane, Monroe Freeling, and Kenyon Sadiq — but Proctor and Ioane went in the top 15 while trading up for Sadiq and Freeling was too rich for the Eagles’ blood. They’ll address offensive line later in this draft with their Day 2 picks.”

— Jeff Kerr

Bleacher Report

Grade: B

**“**The Philadelphia Eagles have seemingly said goodbye to AJ Brown without outright doing so. The organization traded up with the archrival Dallas Cowboys to draft wide receiver Makai Lemon.

In order to do so, general manager Howie Roseman gave up a pair of fourth-round draft picks likely to get ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who may be looking for a wide receiver as well. Lemon’s style of play will fit quite nicely alongside DeVonta Smith.

The Rams-ification of the wide receiver position helped Lemon greatly throughout this year’s draft cycle.

Lemon is a talented prospect unto himself, as the reigning Fred Biletnikoff Award winner. However, Sean McVay’s influence can be seen throughout the NFL. How the Rams head coach utilizes his wide receivers has changed the position, with a greater emphasis on versatility, toughness and even blocking.

Lemon is counted among the incoming crop’s grittiest players. He’s going to be physical, which projects well as a slot receiver and future security blanket. ”

— Brent Sobleski