Roseman on Lemon: ‘He ​has ​a ​lot ​to ​like ​about ​him’

On Thursday night, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to move up three spots to select former USC WR Makai Lemon in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

The Eagles traded picks number 23, 114, and 137 to the Dallas Cowboys for the 20th pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

It appeared that Lemon was going to get selected by the Steelers at 21; the All-American wide receiver was on the phone with the Steelers, but the Eagles swooped in and grabbed him. Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman discussed how it all went down.

​”When ​we ​​get ​on ​the ​clock, ​we ​immediately ​try ​to ​contact ​the ​player,” Roseman said. ​”It ​took ​us ​a ​couple ​of minutes ​to ​contact ​the ​player ​and ​get ​him ​on ​the ​phone. ​That ​hasn’t ​happened ​very ​often; ​the ​clock ​got ​down ​a ​little ​bit ​lower ​than ​we ​would ​have ​liked, ​but we ​were ​able ​to ​get ​in ​touch ​with ​him ​and ​•​select ​him.”

Last season, at USC, Lemon, who is 5-11 and 190 pounds, had 79 receptions for 1156 yards and 11 touchdowns. He showed the ability to break tackles and makes plays in space, and Roseman discussed what he saw IN Lemon.

“He ​has ​a ​lot ​to ​like ​about ​him,” Roseman said. ​”Competitor. ​Has ​the ​ability ​to ​separate ​in ​man ​coverage, out ​of ​the ​slot. ​He could play outside; a physical player. Good ​with ​the ​ball ​in ​his ​hands, ​really ​good ​hands, ​good ​in ​zone ​coverage. ​Has ​really ​good ​instincts.”

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni added:

“Howie ​mentioned ​just ​his ​ability ​to ​separate,” Sirianni said. “​Insane ​ability ​to catch ​the ​ball ​in ​contested ​situations. ​I ​love ​his ​toughness. ​I ​think ​this ​guy’s ​a ​tough, ​tough ​football ​player ​with ​the ​way ​he ​carries ​the ​football ​and ​has. ​When ​he ​has ​the ​football ​in ​his ​hands, ​and ​how ​he ​blocks, ​Insanely ​competitive. There’s ​a ​lot ​to ​like. ​Really ​excited, that ​he’s ​added ​to ​our ​roster.”

Philadelphia signed multiple wide receivers this offseason. They added Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency, and they acquired Dontayvion Wicks from the Packers.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles were looking to trade A.J. Brown after June 1. Roseman was asked about the report, and, according to Roseman, Brown is a member of the team.

“Yeah, ​you ​know, ​I ​think ​for ​us, ​again, ​AJ’s ​a ​member ​of ​the ​Eagles,” Roseman said. ​”​We ​don’t ​have ​any ​trades ​that ​have ​been ​made ​​or ​that ​are ​done, ​and ​I ​think ​for ​us, ​we’re ​taking ​this ​one ​day ​at ​a ​time.”

It would appear that the addition of Lemon would mean the end of Brown in Philly. At that point, we have to see how plays out, but again, it would appear the end is near for Brown and the Eagles.