PHILADELPHIA − When the Eagles decided to trade A.J. Brown, they came up with a multi-pronged plan to replace perhaps the most prolific wide receiver in Eagles history, especially during his unprecedented four-year run in Philadelphia.
Clearly, no single player was going to replace Brown’s production. He had four straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving, including the two highest single-season totals in team history − 1,496 yards in 2022 and 1,456 yards in 2023.
But when the Eagles finally traded Brown to the New England Patriots on June 1, it was with a player in mind who could develop into a younger version of Brown. That is in large part why the Eagles drafted Makai Lemon in the first round of the draft on April 23.
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The Eagles did not draft Lemon to sit on the bench and learn from a veteran group of players in front of him. That has been the Eagles’ M.O. with many of their early-round picks for most of the past decade, whether it was linebacker Jihaad Campbell last season, edge rusher Jalyx Hunt in 2024, edge rusher Nolan Smith in 2023, or defensive tackle Jordan Davis and center Cam Jurgens in 2022.
Certainly, there have been exceptions, such as cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024, defensive tackle Jalen Carter in 2023, and wide receiver DeVonta Smith and left guard Landon Dickerson (drafted as a center) in 2021.
The Eagles need Lemon to become another exception. But can he?
That makes Lemon No. 7 in our 8 most intriguing Eagles players heading into training camp that begins July 28. It’s not necessarily the eight best players as much as it is a compilation of players who could determine the Eagles’ success or failure in 2026.
Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the top wide receiver in college football last season, when he had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns at Southern Cal. But Lemon didn’t play much right away as a freshman. In fact, he saw some action at cornerback.
But Lemon didn’t sulk, or more impressively in today’s college NIL/transfer environment, he didn’t leave USC. That impressed the Eagles.
“He has tremendous confidence in his abilities,” Eagles GM Howie Roseman said. “I think adversity wasn’t going to deter him from going forward and achieving his goals. He wanted to do it (at USC). He’s a very determined guy. He’s got a great work ethic. He loves football, and I think all those things play out.”
Of course, the Eagles don’t have much time to wait for a similar slow start. It certainly didn’t help that Lemon missed the last two weeks of spring practices, including the mandatory minicamp on June 9-10, with a hamstring injury. It’s assumed that Lemon will be ready for training camp.
He’ll have a lot of work to do in order to be WR2 by Week 1, when the Eagles open their season against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 13.
Sure, DeVonta Smith can replace much of Brown’s production, but then that leaves a group of wide receivers needing to replace Smith’s production. The Eagles guarded against some of that by signing veterans Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore as free agents, and trading for Dontayvion Wicks.
Last season, the three combined for 1,031 yards with their former teams, barely beating the totals of Smith (1,008 yards) and Brown (1,003 yards) in 2025.
But the three do improve the Eagles’ depth at receiver. In 2025, the Eagles’ third leading wide receiver behind Smith and Brown was Jahan Dotson, who had 262 yards. He signed with the Falcons in free agency. No other wide receiver had even 100 yards receiving.
All of which sets the stage for Lemon.
“They’re gonna get someone who can come in, who wants to compete at a high level, a dawg, somebody that’s gonna do anything that the organization needs me to do at a high level,” Lemon said.
The sooner, the better.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the “Eye On The Eagles” newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read hi
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Pressure’s on Eagles’ No. 7 most intriguing to produce right away. Can he?
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