The Eagles traded up to No. 20 overall and selected wide receiver Makai Lemon out of USC.

Philadelphia traded picks No. 23, 114, and 137 to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for No. 20 and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

Lemon played three seasons at USC, starting for a year and a half. He finished last year with 1,156 receiving yards and 13 scrimmage touchdowns, earning unanimous All-American honors and winning the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top wide receiver.

"He has a lot to like about him," Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said. "A competitor. Has the ability to separate in man coverage, out of the slot, he can play outside, physical player, really good with the ball in his hands. Really good hands, good in zone coverage, has really good instincts."

"Howie mentioned his ability to separate. Insane ability to catch the ball in contested situations," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said. "I love his toughness. I think this guy's a tough, tough football player, with the way he carries the football, when he has the football in his hands, and how he blocks. Insanely competitive, so there's a lot to like. Really excited that he's added to our roster."

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon was a big-game machine as a junior, topping 150 receiving yards in four contests including back-to-back games against Northwestern and Iowa.

The Eagles and Cowboys aren't strangers to making first-round trades. Philadelphia also traded with Dallas in 2021 to move up two spots to acquire wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

"I feel like everything happens for a reason," Lemon said on the Eagles moving up to draft him. "They traded up, it means a lot that, you know, they really want me. I'm all in and they're going to get everything that I got.

"They're going to get somebody that's going to come in and wants to compete at a high level. A dog. Somebody that's just going to do anything that the organization needs me to do at a high level. Just playing for my teammates, day in and day out. Leading by example and just being the best player and person that I can be each and every day."

Career stats

Receptions: 137

Receiving yards: 2,008

Receiving touchdowns: 14

Rushing touchdowns: 2

Passing touchdowns: 1

2025 stats

Led the Power Four in receiving yards (1,156) and receiving yards per game (96.3)

Tied for first nationally with 50 receptions for first downs

PFF overall grade of 90.8 (No. 1 WR in college football); PFF receiving grade of 91.4 (4th nationally among 679 qualified WRs)

Added 2 rushing touchdowns and threw a passing touchdown (vs. Oregon), becoming the first Big Ten player to catch 2 TDs and throw a TD in a single game since Eric Decker in 2009

Polynesian College Football Player of the Year

Accolades

2025 Unanimous All-American

2025 Biletnikoff Award

— Written by Matt Ryan