The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Makai Lemon, potentially positioning him as the heir to A.J. Brown. With the 20th overall pick, the Eagles secured Lemon, a smooth, high-upside receiver from the University of Southern California, a welcome addition to the team.
Eagles bring in Makai Lemon in 2026 NFL Draft
Makai Lemon is the first wide receiver the Philadelphia Eagles has taken in the opening round since DeVonta Smith in 2021. Following the pick, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that his arrival is expected to signal the end of A.J. Brown’s tenure with the Eagles.
Brown’s name surfaced in trade talks throughout the 2026 NFL offseason. The 28-year-old has been frequently linked to the New England Patriots. This move would reunite him with Mike Vrabel from his Tennessee Titans days. However, no deal has materialized yet.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles haven’t slowed down when it comes to restocking their receiver room this offseason. They added Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency, traded for Dontayvion Wicks, and capped it off by drafting Lemon as a long-term complement to DeVonta Smith.
Makai Lemon is positioned to compete for a starting role in Philadelphia early on. At 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, he projects best as a slot receiver in the NFL. He separates naturally working inside, and his reliable hands give him contested-catch ability that plays bigger than his frame suggests. Early slot success from Lemon would give Jalen Hurts a trusted outlet and middle-field playmaker.
All of these moves signal that the Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to move on from A.J. Brown. The Philadelphia Eagles will likely do so after June 1, when they will be able to split Brown’s dead-cap hit over two seasons instead of absorbing it all for the 2026 season.
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
