Eagles Trade Up For Makai Lemon: Will He Replace A.J. Brown?

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted wide receiver Makai Lemon after a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles acquired the No. 20 overall pick and 2027 seventh-round pick, while the Cowboys acquired the No. 23 overall pick and two 2026 fourth-round picks. The Eagles drafted Lemon while the Cowboys drafted defensive end Malachi Lawrence.

Lemon was widely considered to be one of the top WR prospects in this draft class. Some mock drafts had him going as high as the No. 5 overall pick by the New York Giants.

ESPN reported that A.J. Brown will likely be traded to the New England Patriots after June 1. This means the Eagles were looking for new WR options. 

With Lemon falling in the draft, the Eagles knew they needed to act, causing them to make the trade to move up three spots in the draft. According to NFL.com’s production score, Lemon was the most productive WR in college football. Most scouts agree that he has the skills to succeed at the NFL level, but some questioned whether he had the athletic ability.

The Eagles held five picks on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. They drafted quarterback Cole Payton, offensive guard Micah Morris, safety Cole Wisniewski, defensive tackle Uar Bernard and edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby.

The Eagles originally had another Day 3 pick in the fifth round. They traded this pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for Dontayvion Wicks. 

Wicks gives the Eagles another option at WR. In 2025, he had 30 receptions for 332 yards. The Eagles immediately gave Wicks a one-year, $12.5 million extension after the trade. 

The Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, wants to add more creative routes to the Eagles’ playbook. Lemon and Wicks have the skill sets to help make the Eagles’ offense more dynamic.