Who is Makai Lemon, the Philadelphia Eagles' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Philadelphia Eagles moved up three spots in the 2026 NFL draft Thursday night to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
The Eagles sent the Dallas Cowboys No. 23 overall and two fourth-rounders in this year's draft (Nos. 114 and 137) for No. 20 overall to pick Lemon and a 2027 seventh-round pick
"I ain't going to lie, I'm just so blessed right now," Lemon told the TV broadcast after he was picked. "I just praise the lord for every moment, really. This is a dream come true, I can't even believe this right now."
So, what type of wide receiver are the Eagles getting in Lemon?
"They getting a dog," he said.
Who is Makai Lemon?
Lemon became the third wide receiver selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, behind Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson.
Lemon, a former five-star recruit in high school, won the Biletnikoff Award last season as a junior at USC, which goes to the best wide receiver in college football.
Lemon had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games for the Trojans. He also earned First-team Associated Press All-American and First-team All-Big Ten Conference honors in his junior season.
Lemon, who grew up in California and has Native Hawaiian roots, was named the Polynesian College Football Co-Player of the Year in 2025.
Coincidentally, Lemon is the second USC receiver the Birds selected at No. 20 overall after the team picked Nelson Agholor at the same spot in the 2015 NFL draft.
A.J. Brown trade appears likely after Eagles select Makai Lemon
After the Eagles drafted Lemon, an A.J. Brown trade appears imminent.
The selection comes after a report that Brown is likely to be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1, where it would make more sense salary-cap-wise for the Birds to deal their star wide receiver.
The rumors and reports of the Eagles dealing Brown have swirled this offseason, especially after he voiced his frustrations about the team's offense numerous times in the 2025 season.
With Brown likely gone, the Eagles have spent this offseason retooling their wide receiver depth chart.
DeVonta Smith is set to become the No. 1 wideout in the 2026 season and the Eagles made several other moves to add talent before the draft.
Earlier this month, the Eagles acquired Dontayvion Wicks in a trade with the Green Bay Packers and gave him a one-year contract extension. They also signed wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency.
Now, Lemon will join Philadelphia's receiving room and compete for a role on the offense.
Eagles jumped Steelers to pick Lemon
Before the Eagles traded up, Lemon was on the phone with the Steelers, who were picking at No. 21 overall in the first round and planning to take the USC wideout.
But then, the Eagles began calling him after trading up and selected him at 20th overall to jump Pittsburgh.
"I feel like everything happened for a reason," he said. "They traded up, so that means a lot that they really wanted me, so I'm all in and they going to get everything that I got."
Lemon said the Eagles showed interest in him in the pre-draft process. He met with them at the NFL scouting combine and had a top-30 visit with the Birds.
Grading the Makai Lemon draft pick
CBS Sports had Lemon ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver prospect in the draft and graded the selection an "A," given Brown's likely departure.
"With A.J. Brown's impending departure, the Eagles get an NFL ready receiver who plays with a similar physicality - even if he doesn't have Brown's size. Lemon has very few weaknesses outside of his size and should be able to step into a slot role and be productive from Day 1," CBS Sports' Mike Renner wrote.
Eagles' remaining 2026 NFL draft picks
- Round 2: 54th overall (own pick)
- Round 3: 68th overall (from New York Jets via Haason Reddick trade)
- Round 3: 98th overall (compensatory pick)
- Round 5: 178th overall (compensatory pick)
- Round 6: 197th overall (from the Atlanta Falcons via Sydney Brown trade)
