Lemon (hammy) will be ‘100 percent’ ready for camp

No major cause for concern just yet, but it’s worth monitoring how he rebounds from a hamstring injury. With A.J. Brown now officially on the Patriots, Lemon is ticketed for a fairly big role in Philadelphia’s new offense in his rookie season. We’d be surprised if it had major breakout potential, but a WR3 season is probably in the range of outcomes if everything goes right.

Under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who will reportedly have “total authority” over the team’s offense, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will have to learn an entirely new playbook predicated on the concepts that have made Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers and Sean McVay’s Rams two of the league’s most efficient offenses. This is very much in line with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie pledging in April that the team would implement “significant offensive changes” after a 2025 campaign in which they ranked 17th in EPA per play, in line with the Texans and Falcons. Depending on which version of the Shanny/McVay offense Mannion installs, Saquon Barkley could see more pass-game involvement while short-area pass catchers like Dallas Goedert and rookie Makai Lemon see plenty of looks from Hurts, who last year ranked 14th out of 45 qualifying quarterbacks in accuracy on short throws. In 2024, Hurts led all QBs in accuracy on attempts between 1-10 yards.

Lemon’s $20.8 million deal is fully guaranteed and includes an $11.5 million signing bonus. The former USC wide receiver posted a 79/1,156/11 receiving line last year and brings inside-outside versatility to the Eagles’ offense. With WR A.J. Brown still on the roster, Lemon slots in as the No. 3 wide receiver. If and when Brown gets traded, Lemon should have the inside track for the No. 2 role, though he may have to fend off veterans, WR Dontayvion Wicks and WR Hollywood Brown, in training camp.

Per Fowler, Jets TE Kenyon Sadiq “was also believed to be part of the Rams’ first-round conversation at some point,” along with Cowboys S Caleb Downs. Both the former USC wide receiver and the former Oregon tight end were available when the Rams were on the clock. The former Ohio State safety was taken two picks earlier. The Rams are slated to pick 29th in Rounds 2 and 3 today. Given their interest in Lemon, a slot/Z-receiver, and Sadiq, a receiving tight end, it would be unsurprising to see them draft a pass catcher today.

Per Rapoport, the Steelers were actually on the phone with Lemon when the Eagles traded up with the Cowboys to acquire the No. 20 overall pick. The Eagles then tried calling Lemon, but could not get hold of him because he was on the line with the Steelers. Ultimately, the Eagles submitted the card anyway and came away with a new wide receiver. The Steelers instead drafted Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor one pick later. We expect the Steelers to be in the market for a new wide receiver on Day 2.

The Eagles gave Dallas picks No. 23, No. 114, and No. 137 to move up and select Lemon (5'11"/192). A slow but steady riser in Lincoln Riley’s ever-prolific Trojans offense, Lemon broke out as USC’s most reliable chain-mover in 2025, posting a sterling 79/1,156/11 receiving line to go along with a 71.8 percent catch rate and top-tier 53.3 percent success rate. His usage reflected a true all-levels profile, with 46 percent of his targets coming short, 25 percent intermediate, and 30 percent deep. He nevertheless primarily operated from the slot (62 percent slot vs. 34 percent wide), where he moved the chains 63.3 percent of the time. Although Lemon’s best work came in the short areas, he makes plays at all three levels thanks to truly elite ball skills and tracking ability. He creates reliable separation. Ridiculously strong at the catch point, Lemon is also comfortable in traffic. That’s good since he’s not a true blazer, but Lemon’s overall play speed and polish hint at Amon-Ra St. Brown-level upside. Productive and efficient with a history of power four production, Lemon should hit the ground running for both the Eagles and fantasy players. The Birds’ decision to draft Lemon further cements the likelihood that A.J. Brown will depart Philly in the coming months, but puts another good receiver in the way of a DeVonta Smith breakout.

The Commanders held a big pre-draft Top 30 visit Tuesday, with many top prospects heading to Top Golf as part of a group outing of over 20 players. Holding the No. 7 pick in the draft, the Commanders have quite the list of visiting prospects, though it is absent quarterbacks with Jayden Daniels firmly holding down that position. In addition to top offensive players in Tate, Lemon and Love, the Commanders also hosted top defensive players in Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain. What Washington does with the pick is still up in the air, though now nearly an entire round’s worth of prospects can say they’ve played Top Golf in the DMV area.

With Tyreek Hill a free agent and Jaylen Waddle now in Denver, few teams find themselves in more need at receiver than the Dolphins. If the season were to start today, Miami would be rolling with the trio of Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert, and Malik Washington, who combined for 70-712-5, as their top options. Lemon, who has drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown, profiles primarily as a slot receiver after playing 75.6 percent of his career snaps from the slot in college. He would provide an immediate upgrade for Malik Willis, who signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract this offseason and is hoping to prove he can be the long-term answer at QB in the post-Tua Tagovailoa era.

As the NFL Network ran clips of Lemon, Ohio State WR Carnell Tate and Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson, Rapoport said he expects there to be two wide receivers drafted during the 2026 NFL Draft’s first 15 picks. He then said that the picks 16-18 range is a “good spot” for Lemon. Presumably, Rapoport believes Tate and Tyson will be drafted ahead of him. While teams can, of course, swap picks, the Jets, Lions and Vikings currently hold picks 16,17 and 18, respectively. Rapoport’s colleague Cameron Wolfe adds that Lemon has a top-30 visit with the Dolphins, who hold the 11th and 30th overall picks, next week.

Lemon chose not to partake in any of the athletic testing at the NFL Combine, though he did participate in the gauntlet drill. Either way, he was all but locked in for first-round draft capital already. Though he didn’t blaze the 40, the range scouts timed him at his more than enough to keep him in top-10 contention come draft night. Coming off a 79-1,156-11 receiving season at USC, Lemon will be one of the first receivers off the board both in the real draft and in early dynasty drafts.