With the Pittsburgh Steelers on the phone, Makai Lemon was moments away from taking center stage and soaking in the raucous applause from the host city of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Then came another call that changed the trajectory of his burgeoning NFL career.
The Keystone State’s other football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, true to their mascot, swooped in to steal a USC wide receiver from the Steelers.
“I was definitely shocked,” Lemon said of the Eagles signing him. “Definitely. I couldn’t be happier that they did. I’m super blessed.”
With Lemon drafted by Pittsburgh to hear his name called as the No. 21 pick, general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles traded up from 23 overall to their archrivals, the Dallas Cowboys, at No. 20.
“It was the right time, the right team,” Lemon said, “and everything worked out the way it was supposed to.”
Lemon thought he should be a Steeler and joined a WR corps with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman. A surprise phone call later, he learned he would be joining DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks and Marquise Brown on the Eagles. His draft night may well have better prepared him to deal with the drama that could come with playing for Philly and the outfielder who will eventually be considered AJ Brown’s replacement.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported shortly after Lemon was selected that the Eagles are working with the expectation that Brown will be traded, likely after June 1.
Before this happened, of course, the Eagles made a trade, calling Lemon to let him know they had moved up and would draft him, not the team he was just in phone contact with.
“First I answered the phone and it was the Steelers, and then my phone rang. I look and it’s the Eagles,” Lemon said. “They traded up and were going to pick me. I feel like everything happens for a reason. They traded up, so it means a lot that they really want me. I’m all in and they’re going to get everything I got.”