The Philadelphia Eagles probably aren’t going to win any awards or get any of those shiny “A+” grades for their 2026 draft class.
The Eagles started with wide receiver Makai Lemon in the 1st round and ended with 5 picks on Day 3, which included a quarterback in North Dakota State’s Cole Payton in the 5th round.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox handed the Eagles some middling praise for their 8 picks, calling the draft class “Effective” after saying the team got better but holding back on the effusiveness.
“It’s impossible to feel like the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t substantially better than they were a few days ago,” Knox wrote. “General manager Howie Roseman delivered another impressive draft weekend by filling multiple short- and long-term needs. He traded up for USC receiver Makai Lemon, who will become an immediate starter if and when the Eagles trade A.J. Brown … along the way, Roseman picked up Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers and Miami offensive tackle Markel Bell, who may eventually become replacements for aging stars Dallas Goedert and Lane Johnson, respectively.”
If you have seen how Roseman drafts and operates, he has shown a knack for hitting on starters in the later rounds and even as undrafted free agents — UDFA signee and safety Reed Blankenship was a full-time starter and Super Bowl champion over the last 3 seasons, and signed a 3-year, $24.75 million free-agent contract with the Houston Texans in March.
Still … effective aoesn’t seem like the kind of praise warranted for what should be a standout class.
Controversial 1st Round Pick in Makai Lemon
Lemon was part of a pack of superstar college wide receivers all projected for the 1st round and ended up being the 3rd 1 taken behind Carnell Tate (No. 4 overall) and Jordyn Tyson (No. 8 overall).
On paper — and what we saw on the field — Lemon was just as good or better than either of those wide receivers.
What held him back was a stunningly bizarre turn at the NFL scouting combine in which he not only acted bizarrely in interviews with media and team personnel but also seemed distracted during on-field drills.
Makai Lemon’s Interviews Went Viral
Social media didn’t spare Lemon for how he acted at the combine — a choice that may have cost him millions of dollars in the draft.
“USC WR Makai Lemon has gone viral for his NFL combine interview when asked who he models his game after and looks up to in the NFL,” NFL influencer Dov Kleiman wrote on their official X account. “Fans are extremely confused by his ‘demeanor.’ “
“I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired,” NFL insider Breiden Fehoko wrote on X. ” ‘Absolutely bombed it’ … word for word.”
“Seeing lots of talk today about Lemon bombing his interviews ….. it’s true,” Anthony Betts wrote on X. “I was told the other day he did. Even some people at the combine told me he was a turn off. I know a few teams took him off the board. Does he fall? If he does how far? One team told me ‘Great player, horrible attitude. What a disaster.’ ”
Eagles Receive Middling Praise Over 2026 NFL Draft Class