The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a stunning draft-day maneuver, trading up to the No. 20 overall pick to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon while he was actively on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
According to Rapoport, the Steelers were already on the line with Lemon at the No. 21 spot, preparing to inform him he was their pick, when the Eagles finalized a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to jump ahead of their cross-state rivals. Lemon confirmed he was "shocked" by the turn of events, noting that he had to wait to answer the Eagles' call because he was still speaking with Pittsburgh leadership.
To facilitate the jump, Philadelphia sent the No. 23 overall pick along with two fourth-round selections (Nos. 114 and 137) to Dallas in exchange for the No. 20 pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder. The Steelers, left to scramble after losing their target, eventually selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at No. 21.
In addition to the draft-room drama, Rapoport reports that the Eagles are currently "operating under the assumption" that star wide receiver A.J. Brown will not be with the team next season. The addition of Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner, provides a high-upside replacement as the franchise prepares for a potential post-Brown era.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting
