Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Eagles Go WR

Posted April 23rd, 2026 | No Comments »

Howie Roseman loves value and he showed that again with the Eagles first round pick. WR Makai Lemon was a Top 15 for the Eagles and for most people doing draft evaluations. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the nation and had a great season. When the Eagles saw him start to fall, they started making calls. Eventually they made a trade with Dallas and got their guy.

Lemon is 5-11, 192. He runs in the 4.45 range. Here are my raw notes on him.

Highly productive receiver. Went 79-1156-11 in 2025. Strong, physical player. Lacks ideal size and speed, but plays bigger and faster than he is. Might remind you of Amon-Ra St. Brown. Has very good hands. Made some spectacular catches. Terrific body control. Able to make catches through contact. Good RAC ability. Destined to be a slot receiver in the NFL. Does a good job of working the middle of the field so he could excel in that role.

Sean Mannion’s offensive scheme relies on yards after the catch. That has been an issue for the Eagles in recent years. Lemon can make a major impact in that area.

Howie and Nick said that they feel Lemon can play outside or in the slot. He is a terrific route runner and understands how to get open. He’s able to create separation through his body control and quickness. I mentioned Amon-Ra St. Brown as a comparison. He also has a bit of Puka Nacua to his game. Lemon adds value as a KOR. Whether on returns or after the catch, he is great in the open field. He has excellent vision and instincts. He will run through arm tackles. He’s elusive. WR screens have been mostly awful in recent years. Lemon is very good on those and can hopefully have success on them. Lemon goes full speed when the ball is in his hands.. He is a true competitor. He referred to himself as a “dawg” and I can’t disagree.

The Eagles met him at the Combine and brought him to Philly for a visit. This is a player they did their homework on and really wanted. Howie gave up a pair of fourth round picks to go get him. That kills me, but we’ve seen time and again that top talent is what it takes to win big in this league. Lemon was my #2 receiver. I never expected him to fall to 20.

This is another sign that AJ Brown will be traded this summer. The Eagles can now line up DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks on the outside and Lemon in the slot. That’s a good trio. Drafting a WR also helps the team financially. He will cost a reasonable amount for the next five years. The team is paying big bucks to other offensive stars so they need to balance that out with some inexpensive talent.

Some people hate this pick because they think of JJAW and Jalen Reagor. JJAW was a second round pick. Reagor went 21st overall, but the consensus big board from 2020 had Reagor as the 39th overall prospect. That was a reach by the Eagles. Lemon is a completely different story. He was highly rated by everyone and is an ideal fit in the new offense. Reagor had some maturity issues. Lemon is ultra-competitive. Nick mentioned that when Lemon was a freshman he chased down a DB after an INT and made the tackle. He said it was a really impressive play that showed just how tough and competitive Lemon is.

The Eagles tried to call Lemon to tell him they were going to take him at 20. He wasn’t able to take the call because he was on the phone with the Steelers, who told him they were going to take him at 21. Philly is getting the best of Pittsburgh the last couple of weeks.

I was surprised the Eagles took Lemon because they had spent so much time on speedsters, guys who ran in the 4.3’s. Lemon plays faster than he times. Obviously they focused on the game tape, where they saw a super tough, talented receiver who can make plays. The Eagles offense just got better.

Day 2 will be interesting. The Eagles have three picks. Will they get an OT or focus on edge rushers? I’ll post a preview on Friday. For now enjoy the Eagles new offensive weapon.

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