USC WR Makai Lemon selected by Philadelphia Eagles with pick No. 20 in 2026 NFL Draft

AFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsScoop City NewsletterNFL Draft UpdatesThe BeastConsensus RankingsTop 300 Rankings7-Round Draft Order2026 NFL Draft Makai Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver in 2025. Luke Hales / Getty Images Share article5The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles selected USC receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th pick of the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the third receiver taken. The Eagles traded up with the Dallas Cowboys for the 20th pick. The last time the Eagles and Cowboys traded was 2021, when the Eagles selected DeVonta Smith at No. 10 and the Cowboys took Micah Parsons at No. 12. Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding receiver in college football. He caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. Lemon was a highly touted recruit and fringe five-star prospect when he signed with the Trojans during the 2022 recruiting cycle. Even though he was a top-100 prospect, he was somewhat overlooked in USC’s recruiting class by higher-rated receiver recruits like Zachariah Branch and Duce Robinson. But in 2024, Lemon emerged as the best player in the group. He led USC in catches (52) and receiving yards (764) despite not being featured prominently until midseason. That set the stage for his tremendous 2025 season. His best performance came in a 10-catch, 153-yard effort against a strong Iowa defense in November. Lemon also did solid work in the return game for USC and displayed good vision as a kick returner. And at one point during his freshman season, Lemon played cornerback when the Trojans were lacking depth on defense. Lemon isn’t the flashiest athlete, but it’s difficult to argue with his production and ability as an all-around football player. Lemon ranked No. 13 overall and was the No. 2 receiver on Dane Brugler’s big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide: “Lemon doesn’t wow with his size or athletic profile, but he is a smooth, manipulative route runner and catches everything thrown his way. Similar in ways to fellow former Trojans receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, he already plays like a pro and projects as an NFL starter (Z or slot).” Hints of Amon-Ra St. Brown. Not wildly athletic, but a likely starter at slot or Z. What a Big Ten defensive coordinator had to say about Lemon in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft: “He is that guy who plays like he’s 6-4, 220. He’s really good in traffic and on 50-50 balls. He’s also really efficient and crafty as a route runner. He’s got a suddenness there. I don’t know if he’s faster than a mid-4.5 (40) guy but he’s just really shifty and strong and can burst out of tough angles and get separation. He’s real good with the ball in his hands, too. Like a running back.” Lemon offers the Eagles a potentially explosive target just as they’re poised to move on from A.J. Brown. Lemon spent the majority of his college career playing in the slot. He’s 5-11, 192 pounds. He had more than 500 yards after the catch last season. He fits well as a complement to DeVonta Smith in the team’s new offensive system under new OC Sean Mannion. — Eagles beat writer Brooks Kubena The Eagles have long been poised to trade Brown. The departure of arguably the greatest wide receiver in team history will leave open a considerable vacancy. The Eagles strongly believe DeVonta Smith can be an elite No. 1 option. They’ve spent the offseason stockpiling veterans around him. Lemon, Dane Brugler’s No. 2-ranked WR, typifies the draft-day value anomaly that Roseman pounces upon. Lemon will have to compete with Marquise Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and Elijah Moore to see the field in 2025. But it makes sense that the Eagles are doing the most they can to ensure they don’t experience a huge drop-off at the position. — Kubena The Eagles could have picked Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk or Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. They bypassed an eventual Lane Johnson replacement and another pass rusher to get a player who will slot as a starting receiver for the Eagles — assuming A.J. Brown is traded. The Eagles were aggressive after Monroe Freeling was drafted at No. 19, wiping the top offensive tackles off the board. At wide receiver, they also could have gone with Omar Cooper Jr., but Lemon was considered the higher-ranked player. — Eagles beat writer Zach Berman The first reaction that fans will have is that this signals that Brown is going to be traded, but this would have been a sensible move even if he remains with the Eagles. (The expectation is that he’s still traded.) The Eagles know they needed to replenish their offense with young, cost-controlled talent, and Lemon stood out among potential blue-chippers available. He was No. 14 on the consensus Big Board, and the Eagles landed him at No. 20. This continues Howie Roseman’s recent history of hunting value in the first round. Lemon arrives with standout college production.  He’s a smooth route runner who can move around the formation, and at age 21, he’s a young prospect who left USC after three seasons. This move was about adding high-end offensive talent. Roseman drafts based on tiers and did not want to reach, and considering the aggressive trade, it’s clear that the tier was depleting and the Eagles wanted to ensure they landed a blue-chip talent. — Berman Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms