Eagles trade up for USC star Makai Lemon as A.J. Brown looms on the trading block

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles selected USC receiver and Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon with the 20th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, trading up to get a top wideout with star A.J. Brown on the trading block.

The Eagles traded the No. 23 overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys as part of a deal that gives quarterback Jalen Hurts a new weapon on the offense.

Brown is likely on the move, with the Patriots expected to be the leading contender to land the star wide receiver, reuniting him with embattled coach Mike Vrabel, who had him in Tennessee. The Rams already pursued Brown earlier in the offseason. The Eagles would be able to spread a $40 million salary cap hit over two seasons by waiting until June 1 to deal Brown.

Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver this season after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards — tops in the Power Four conferences — and 11 touchdowns for the Trojans. The 5-foot-11 wideout with a knack for acrobatic catches and game-changing plays earned first-team All-America honors from The Associated Press.

“They’re getting a dawg," Lemon said. "This is ready to work for real. I ain’t doing no playing.”

Lemon grew up 25 miles from USC’s campus in Orange County. After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2023, he caught 131 passes for 1,928 yards and 14 TDs during his two full seasons with the Trojans.

Lemon was USC’s second Biletnikoff Award winner, joining Marqise Lee (2012).

Brown is not only the Eagles No. 1 wide receiver, but he’s also one of the top receivers in franchise history. He’s topped 1,000 yards receiving all four seasons with the Eagles — including consecutive 1,400-plus-yard seasons — has 339 total receptions in Philadelphia and was crucial member of two teams that played in the Super Bowl.

Yet, he was unhappy last season as the Eagles offense stagnated — leading to a change at offensive coordinator.

Philadelphia has already added receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Marquise "Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore this offseason. They could be serviceable No. 3 receivers behind DeVonta Smith — and now, Lemon.

Smith was the key to a draft night deal in 2021, also with Dallas. The Eagles moved up from 12 to 10 to select Smith out of Alabama. He has three 1,000-yard receiving seasons and two Super Bowl appearances in five seasons with the Eagles.

Under general manager Howie Roseman, the Eagles have made a habit of draft-night deals.

They moved up from No. 10 to No. 9 in 2023 to get defensive tackle Jalen Carter. A year earlier, they went from 15 to 13 to get defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Roseman also moved up in 2019 and 2016. He traded out of the first round in 2018.

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