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Eagles Trade Up for Makai Lemon, Eye AJ Brown Deal

4/24/2026

34 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Eagles Draft Lemon

The Philadelphia Eagles traded picks No. 23, No. 114 and No. 137 to Dallas for No. 20 and selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Lemon posted 79 catches for 1,156 yards, 11 touchdowns and won the Biletnikoff Award.
GM Howie Roseman said the pick signals A.J. Brown will likely be traded after June 1, splitting his $40 million cap hit.

Summary

Roseman trades Lemon

Steelers GM Omar Khan said the team still needs a reliable left tackle because Broderick Jones remains in recovery from offseason neck surgery.
The Steelers drafted Nigerian-born Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor, who began football in junior college and will be developed at tackle, though his side is undecided.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman’s trade for Makai Lemon is seen as part of a plan to replace A.J. Brown after June 1.

Summary

Lemon Signs

He signed a rookie Eagles contract just under $20 million, with an $11 million signing bonus and a $5 million annual value.
He was named the 2025 Polynesian Football Player of the Year, noting his Hawaiian and Polynesian heritage.
At USC he played cornerback as a true freshman, logging kickoff and punt returns for about 800 yards and a passing touchdown.
He earned a 2026 Senior Bowl invitation and joined the NFL Combine.

History

Historical Context

The NFL implemented a rookie wage scale in 2011, capping salaries for first-round picks and reshaping team financial strategies. This change allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to trade picks for Makai Lemon, who signed a nearly $20 million contract. Such trades reflect the ongoing evolution of player development and financial management in professional football, particularly as teams navigate salary cap constraints.

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Eagles Draft Lemon

The Philadelphia Eagles traded picks No. 23, No. 114 and No. 137 to Dallas for No. 20 and selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Lemon posted 79 catches for 1,156 yards, 11 touchdowns and won the Biletnikoff Award.
GM Howie Roseman said the pick signals A.J. Brown will likely be traded after June 1, splitting his $40 million cap hit.

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