Eagles Trade Up to Take Receiver Makai Lemon at 20th Overall

The Philadelphia Eagles swung a trade with the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night to move up to the 20th overall pick of the 2026 NFL draft to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. The Eagles already have DeVonta Smith and acquired Dontayvion Wicks this offseason, so the selection of Lemon in the first round is more writing on the wall that star pass-catcher A.J. Brown will be traded after June 1. The 21-year-old Lemon is considered one of the best wideouts in this year's class, and he should immediately have a chance to be the Eagles' WR2 behind Smith if Brown is traded. Lemon stands at 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds and figures to see most of his playing time from the slot in Philly. The Eagles will be hoping that the Biletnikoff Award winner will once again make their offense more dynamic after they struggled mightily to stay on the field in 2025. He's regarded as a plug-and-play slot man with impressive technical route-running polish. Lemon isn't the strongest or biggest wideout, but he should give quarterback Jalen Hurts an explosive and productive weapon through the air. In dynasty/keeper drafts, Lemon should be considered a top-five pick.

Source: NFL.com