October 24, 2026 7:36 PM PDT
One phone call likely altered Makai Lemon's destiny of playing in eastern Pennsylvania vs. the west half of the state. The USC wide receiver wound up being selected with the No. 20 pick in Thursday's first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, with the trading up from No. 23 to grab Lemon as a However, picking at No. 21, the were reportedly talking with Lemon at the moment the Eagles moved up leading to Howie Roseman grabbing the receiver before the 2026 draft's hosts even had a chance to take him. Here's how Philadelphia wound up taking Lemon while he was talking to the team's in-state rival, the Steelers. 2026 NFL DRAFT HQ: | | Eagles trade up for Makai Lemon while WR talks on phone with Steelers The NHL isn't the only sport where Philadelphia has had a recent upper hand over Pittsburgh. According to Ian Rapoport, there was a good reason the Eagles moved up to No. 20 in the first round, trading up three picks with the : the Steelers were making plans to select Lemon at No. 21. "The Pittsburgh Steelers get on the phone with Makai Lemon, planning to select him next at 21. Except what they didn't know, is the Eagles had actually traded up over them," Rapoport explained. With Lemon on the phone with the Steelers, Rapoport Bradley Beal Jersey said that the Eagles struggled to get in connection with the USC star Lemon "wasn't answering because he was already on the phone with the Steelers." From the NFL Draft: A wild story, as the trade up for Makai Lemon... while he was on the phone with the . Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) Lemon also confirmed that report, saying his phone "kept ringing" and that he believed "everything happened for a reason." New Eagles WR Makai Lemon confirmed he was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers first. "First I answered the phone, and it was the Steelers. And then my phone kept ringing. I look, and it's the Eagles. They traded up. And they were going to pick me. I feel like everything Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) On Friday morning, footage was released showing Lemon on the phoen with the Steelers before being interrupted with a call from the Eagles. The WR's agent can be heard saying, "Philly just traded for you!" The moment that Makai Lemon found out the Eagles were trading up to get him at No. 20 while he was the on the phone with the Steelers, who were planning to take him at No. 21. Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) In the end, thanks to their trade-up, the Eagles jumped in front of the Steelers to take Lemon, while Pittsburgh moved on to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. MORE: Jeff Green Jersey
One phone call likely altered Makai Lemon's destiny of playing in eastern Pennsylvania vs. the west half of the state. The USC wide receiver wound up being selected with the No. 20 pick in Thursday's first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, with the trading up from No. 23 to grab Lemon as a However, picking at No. 21, the were reportedly talking with Lemon at the moment the Eagles moved up leading to Howie Roseman grabbing the receiver before the 2026 draft's hosts even had a chance to take him. Here's how Philadelphia wound up taking Lemon while he was talking to the team's in-state rival, the Steelers. 2026 NFL DRAFT HQ: | | Eagles trade up for Makai Lemon while WR talks on phone with Steelers The NHL isn't the only sport where Philadelphia has had a recent upper hand over Pittsburgh. According to Ian Rapoport, there was a good reason the Eagles moved up to No. 20 in the first round, trading up three picks with the : the Steelers were making plans to select Lemon at No. 21. "The Pittsburgh Steelers get on the phone with Makai Lemon, planning to select him next at 21. Except what they didn't know, is the Eagles had actually traded up over them," Rapoport explained. With Lemon on the phone with the Steelers, Rapoport Bradley Beal Jersey said that the Eagles struggled to get in connection with the USC star Lemon "wasn't answering because he was already on the phone with the Steelers." From the NFL Draft: A wild story, as the trade up for Makai Lemon... while he was on the phone with the . Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) Lemon also confirmed that report, saying his phone "kept ringing" and that he believed "everything happened for a reason." New Eagles WR Makai Lemon confirmed he was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers first. "First I answered the phone, and it was the Steelers. And then my phone kept ringing. I look, and it's the Eagles. They traded up. And they were going to pick me. I feel like everything Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) On Friday morning, footage was released showing Lemon on the phoen with the Steelers before being interrupted with a call from the Eagles. The WR's agent can be heard saying, "Philly just traded for you!" The moment that Makai Lemon found out the Eagles were trading up to get him at No. 20 while he was the on the phone with the Steelers, who were planning to take him at No. 21. Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) In the end, thanks to their trade-up, the Eagles jumped in front of the Steelers to take Lemon, while Pittsburgh moved on to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. MORE: Jeff Green Jersey