From the NFL Draft: A wild story, as the #Eagles trade up for Makai Lemon... while he was on the ...
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Ian Rapoport is a senior NFL reporter for NFL Media known for breaking major draft and trade news. He is widely recognized as one of the most credible and well-connected insiders in professional football, with a reputation for accurate reporting and timely coverage of player movements and team decisions.
What's This About?
This post covers the Philadelphia Eagles' dramatic first-round trade with the Dallas Cowboys during the 2026 NFL Draft, where they moved up three spots from pick 23 to pick 20 to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. The story gained significant attention because Lemon was literally on a phone call with the Pittsburgh Steelers—who were holding the 21st pick—when the Eagles called to announce they had traded up to select him. The selection hints at potential roster changes for the Eagles, with Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown potentially on the trading block.
🔥Why It's Trending
This story is trending because it combines multiple compelling elements: an unusual real-time draft drama, a high-profile trade between division rivals, and speculation about a major team's future direction. The narrative of Lemon receiving calls from two different teams simultaneously on draft night, with the Eagles swooping in at the last moment, creates the kind of dramatic sports moment that resonates across social media.
💡Fun Facts
- 1Makai Lemon was on an active phone call with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the Eagles called to tell him they had traded up to select him at pick 20[1][2]
- 2The Eagles traded three spots up (from 23 to 20) by giving Dallas the 23rd pick, two fourth-round selections (114 and 137), and receiving a 2027 seventh-round pick in return[1]
- 3Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award in 2025 as the nation's top wide receiver with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns[3][6]
- 4ESPN Analytics' Draft Predictor estimated only a 4% chance that Lemon would still be available at pick 20 before the draft[1]
- 5Lemon posted 150-plus receiving yards in four games during the 2025 season, the most by any USC player since Drake London in 2021[1]
📚Read More
Eagles trade with Cowboys, pick Makai Lemon at No. 20 in NFL draft
The Eagles made a trade with the division rival Cowboys and selected USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 20 pick.
Eagles trade up for USC star Makai Lemon | KYW Newsradio
The Philadelphia Eagles have selected USC receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick in the NFL draft. They traded up to secure the Biletnikoff Award winner, adding a new weapon for quarterback Jalen Hurts. | KYW Newsradio
2026 NFL Draft: Eagles trade up to pick USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with No. 20 overall selection
The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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The #Steelers were on the phone with Makai Lemon at No. 21, planning to pick him… and then the #E...
The #Steelers were on the phone with Makai Lemon at No. 21, planning to pick him… and then the #Eagles traded up to No. 20 with the #Cowboys and took Lemon, per @RapSheet.
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