The Eagles pulled off another ruthless trade — and made the Steelers look silly | McGonigal

This isn’t the first time Roseman has pulled off something like this. It’s the fifth time in the last six drafts that the Eagles have traded up in the first round to get their guy.

In 2021, the Eagles jumped the Giants for DeVonta Smith. In 2022 and 2023, they moved up for Georgia defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. Last year, they got Jihaad Campbell.

None of those trades required earth-shattering compensation packages. Roseman dealt Day 3 picks to slide up a spot or two in all four scenarios. But they were made with value in mind.

Smith, Carter and Campbell were all ranked higher than where the Eagles drafted them. And they’ve all panned out, with Smith, Carter and Davis contributing to a Super Bowl title.

Makai Lemon

We’ll see if Lemon can provide a similar impact. The fact that the Eagles traded up for him doesn’t mean that Lemon will be a success in the NFL. The draft is a crapshoot, and it’s impossible to know that now.

But we do know Lemon is a damn good prospect. The Biletnikoff Award winner for college football’s top receiver had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. There’s a reason the gritty, dynamic receiver was one of Daniel Jeremiah’s favorite players in the draft.

We do know the Eagles needed help with A.J. Brown expected to be traded. Lemon is poised to be a new, dangerous weapon for Jalen Hurts in an offense that required refreshing. Maybe Khan and Pittsburgh’s brass should have expected a move for Lemon given that reality.

The Eagles also need a successor at right tackle for the aging Lane Johnson. Maybe the Steelers thought Roseman would sit at No. 23 and select Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor or Utah’s Caleb Lomu to eventually take over for the future Hall of Famer.

But we know — and Roseman knows, as he always says — that you can’t dictate the board. There was an early run on tackles with Utah’s Spencer Fano, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor going in the top 15. Clemson’s Blake Miller and Georgia’s Monroe Freeling went to the Lions and Panthers at Nos. 17 and 19, respectively.

If Freeling or Miller — or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq — fell out of the top 20, maybe the Eagles wouldn’t have traded up for Lemon. But the first-round talents connected to the Eagles heard their names called, prompting Roseman to take action.

He didn’t wait around like he did in 2014. The Eagles, picking No. 22 overall, wanted either wide receiver Brandin Cooks or safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix at that spot. But they were drafted at No. 20 and No. 21, leaving Roseman to select Louisville edge rusher Marcus Smith, who was a bust.

That had to be a learning experience for Roseman.

Perhaps the Lemon situation will be the same for Khan and the Steelers: don’t let Roseman and the Eagles lurk behind you. Because they might just steal the player you want – even while you’re on the phone with him.

Eagles News

• How to get Makai Lemon’s Eagles jersey: Philly trades up in NFL Draft to grab USC star with #20 pick Apr. 24, 2026, 11:19a.m.
• ‘Why is Philly calling?’: The stunning moment the Eagles stole Makai Lemon with the Steelers on the phone Apr. 24, 2026, 10:17a.m.
• Will the Eagles address their biggest need after stunning first-round move? Apr. 24, 2026, 5:00a.m.
• Eagles explain shocking move to steal Makai Lemon from Steelers: ‘We wanted to go get him’ Apr. 24, 2026, 12:30a.m.

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