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Updated · NBC Sports · Apr 24Eagles Trade Up to Draft USC Star Makai Lemon, Signal A.J. Brown Exit
53 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Apr 24
- The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner, caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final college season.
- The move signals a likely post-June 1 trade of veteran A.J. Brown, as Lemon joins a revamped Eagles receiving corps.
What assets will the Patriots send to Philadelphia to finalize the A.J. Brown trade? How accurately does the Amon-Ra St. Brown comparison predict Makai Lemon's NFL success? How close were the hometown Steelers to drafting Makai Lemon before the Eagles moved up? Does trading a star for a rookie prove elite receivers are now too expensive in the NFL? Could the Eagles actually keep A.J. Brown, forming a dominant trio with his new rookie teammate? How will the Cowboys leverage their extra draft picks after trading down with a division rival?