The Philadelphia Eagles are mere weeks from trading A.J. Brown. But they already have a plan for how to integrate his replacement into their offense under first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
The Eagles intend to replace Brown with first-round pick Makai Lemon, who is a different but no-less-dynamic receiver from the veteran Brown.
Philadelphia traded up to take Lemon, the USC product and reigning Billetnikoff Award winner, with the 20th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Eagles parted with two fourth-round selections and the No. 23 pick to pick Lemon.
The Eagles Intend to Replace AJ Brown with Makai Lemon
That Brown is still on the roster is just a salary-cap formality, since the receiver has reportedly been all but traded to the New England Patriots.
So with Lemon participating at Eagles rookie minicamp over the weekend, the team saw first hand what it is getting in Brown’s replacement, according to insider Jason La Canfora.
“With Brown staying away from spring practices, and head coach Nick Sirianni being more involved in the offensive installation and quarterback Jalen Hurts under fire for a poor 2025 following a Super Bowl win, this is a prime situation for the rookie to make an immediate impact,” La Canfora reported for Sports Boom. “Lemon excels at yards after the catch, and with Hurts reluctant to thread the ball into tight windows and push the ball downfield, his ability to turn an underneath pass into an explosive gain looks like a perfect fit.
“His is twitchy and separates easily from defenders, again, something that should him immediately with Hurts, and rival executives believe he has the ability to be a big producer and vie for rookie of the year.”
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman hit on DeVonta Smith with the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, despite Smith’s 6-0, 170-pound frame. But league execs reportedly love the fit with Smith and Lemon, despite the rookie’s diminutive, 5-11, 195-pound frame.
“He’s a polished receiver,” an unidentified longtime personnel executive told La Canfora. “There’s always a learning curve, but I don’t think it’s a steep one for this kid. Howie pounced on him for a reason. They have big plans for him.”
The Eagles offensive line stands to be much better than a year ago, and the Eagles couldn’t be worse at offensive coordinator than they were a year ago.
Makai Lemon Makes an Intriguing Darkhorse Offensive Rookie of the Year Candidate
Despite their wild-card round exit to the San Francisco 49ers, and tumultuous offseason amid Kevin Patullo’s firing and Brown’s trade drama, the Eagles appear poised to contend for the Super Bowl again in 2026.
Between Philadelphia’s likely rebound, and the fact a wide receiver has won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in three of the past five seasons, La Canfora likes Lemon as a dark-horse candidate for the award in 2026.
“With him on a far more competitive team that most of the others around him and likely playing in more prime time games and with more on the line, I wouldn’t discount his chances at all,” La Canfora wrote. “Lemon will be working with a better quarterback and with better pieces around him than most of the other likely candidates.”
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