The Philadelphia Eagles have high hopes for first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon. That would be the case regardless of where he landed with the Eagles in the first round, but Philadelphia traded up with a division rival to get the wideout at No. 20 overall.
Lemon, though, doesn’t have to be “the guy” in the Philadelphia wide receiver room. Even if the Eagles trade A.J. Brown this offseason, the team still has Devonta Smith to lead the wideouts.
In that scenario, to replace Brown, the Eagles need Lemon to complement Smith. The rookie wideout explained to reporters Friday that he sees that happening as soon as the 2026 season.
“Super humble guy. Super chill, super calm – kind of my type of vibe. So, I feel like me and [DeVonta Smith] clicked on those things,” said Lemon. “But you know, when we step on the field, you know, he already know he got that dog mentality.
“So, I feel like me and him are going to click well. Definitely.”
Eagles Rookie Makai Lemon Addresses Playing With Devonta Smith
Lemon told reporters he received the opportunity to attend a Philadelphia 76ers playoff matchup with Smith. The rookie wideout suggested he didn’t want to “pick” Smith’s brain in a social setting.
But Lemon clearly loved the vibe from his new teammate.
That’s definitely good news for the Eagles. Smith is signed through the 2028 season while Lemon’s rookie deal won’t expire until at least March 2030.
Barring a trade or some unforeseen reason to release either receiver, the two wideouts are going to be playing together for a while.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Lemon to Detroit Lions All-Pro wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. Pairing that kind of talent with Smith’s big-play ability down the field could be a lethal combination.
“High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills. Lemon has room for refinement, but not much,” wrote Zierlein. “He’s intelligent, confident and polished with the ability to make plays on all three levels. Tempo-driven route-runner who misdirects man coverage and separates out of turns but is fairly average after the catch.
“Quicker than fast, featuring early acceleration to open seam throws but flashes late burst when needed.
“Lemon is a plug-and-play, quarterback-friendly talent with first-round value and Pro Bowl upside.”
Will Eagles Still Trade WR A.J. Brown?
For weeks, NFL pundits have largely considered a Brown trade to the New England Patriots a done deal. That trade, though, isn’t written in stone just yet.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided an intriguing update on Brown’s trade status Wednesday.
“As one team source pointed out, the Patriots have nothing binding with the Philadelphia Eagles and A.J. Brown. No firm agreement is in place,” wrote Fowler. “Now, could there be a wink-wink understanding? Certainly.
“But New England was free to make a move for a receiver, and it was on its radar in the first two rounds.”
The Eagles continuing to present the front that they don’t have to trade Brown — even with the addition of Lemon — could solely be for negotiating purposes. That tactic will allow the team to maximize its trade return for Brown.
The tactic doesn’t mean Brown won’t be traded. But Fowler’s update seemed to cast some doubt on the possibility.
Until he is dealt, Eagles fans can at least dream about Lemon playing with not just Smith, but also Brown.
Rookie WR Makai Lemon Speaks out on Playing With Devonta Smith