While he was projected by some NFL analysts to be taken with one of the top 15 picks of the NFL Draft, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon dropped a bit, and will be heading out East.
The 21-year-old Southern California native was selected with the 20th overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round on Thursday.
Lemon will likely serve as the replacement for the Eagles’ receiver A.J. Brown, who has been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks.
The Eagles traded up to pick Lemon, dealing their No. 20 overall pick plus a 7th round pick, giving the Cowboys picks No. 23, 114 and 137.
When Lemon suits up for the Eagles, it will be the first time he does so outside of Southern California.
Lemon was born in Los Alamitos, California, winning a national Pop Warner championship with Syracuse quarterback Malachi Nelson.
He was named an Under Armour All-American and considered a five-star recruit coming out of high school, named the 13th-best player in the country by ESPN.
Lemon initially committed to the University of Oklahoma, but he switched his commitment to the University of Southern California when then-Sooners coach Lincoln Riley left for USC.
He had a standout junior year with the Trojans last year with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he was named the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wideout.
Lemon’s selection is yet another indicator that the Eagles plan on trading their star receiver Brown, following a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter reported that the Eagles were looking to trade Brown to the New England Patriots at some point before June 1, when Brown’s $40 million salary cap hit would be split between the next two seasons.
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