Eagles trade up for USC star Makai Lemon as A.J. Brown looms on the trading block

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Makai Lemon's first draft night phone call was from the Pittsburgh Steelers, excited about the chance to draft the USC standout with the 21st pick.

Please hold.

The Philadelphia Eagles made the call of the night — in the form of a trade up in the draft — and swooped in to select Lemon in the clearest sign yet the franchise has soured on Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown.

The Eagles selected Lemon out of USC with the 20th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, sliding up to get a top wideout with Brown on the trading block.

The NFC East champion Eagles traded the No. 23 overall pick to the Dallas Cowboys as part of a deal that gives quarterback Jalen Hurts a new weapon on offense. The Eagles also traded two fourth-rounders and got a seventh-round pick in this year's draft in return.

For those keeping score at home, that's four wins for Philadelphia over Pittsburgh this week — the Flyers lead the Penguins 3-0 in a first-round NHL playoff series.

Brown is likely on the move, with the Patriots expected to be the leading contender to land the star wide receiver, reuniting him with embattled coach Mike Vrabel, who had him in Tennessee. The Rams already pursued Brown earlier in the offseason. The Eagles would be able to spread a $40 million salary cap hit over two seasons by waiting until June 1 to deal Brown.

“For us, again, AJ is a member of the Eagles,” general manger Howie Roseman said. “We don't have any trades that have been made or that are done. We're taking this one day at a time. We're going to look to improve the team tomorrow. We'll continue to address anything we have to with our roster, not only through this draft weekend, but we'll continue to look for ways to improve the team throughout the offseason and into training camp.”

Translation, ask again about Brown after June 1.

Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver this season after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards — tops in the Power Four conferences — and 11 touchdowns for the Trojans. The 5-foot-11 wideout with a knack for acrobatic catches and game-changing plays earned first-team All-America honors from The Associated Press.

Lemon grew up 25 miles from USC’s campus in Orange County. After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2023, he caught 131 passes for 1,928 yards and 14 TDs during his two full seasons with the Trojans.

Lemon was USC’s second Biletnikoff Award winner, joining Marqise Lee (2012).

He was also moments away from becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler.

“I answered the phone and it was the Steelers,” Lemon said. “My phone kept ringing. I look and it was the Eagles. They traded up and they were going to pick me. I feel like everything happened for a reason. They traded up, so it means a lot that they really wanted me.”

Do the Eagles still want Brown?

Brown is not only the Eagles No. 1 wide receiver, but he’s also one of the top receivers in franchise history. He’s topped 1,000 yards receiving all four seasons with the Eagles — including consecutive 1,400-plus-yard seasons — has 339 total receptions in Philadelphia and was crucial member of two teams that played in the Super Bowl.

Yet, he was unhappy last season as the Eagles offense stagnated — leading to a change at offensive coordinator.

Philadelphia has already added receivers Dontayvion Wicks, Marquise "Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore this offseason. They could be serviceable No. 3 receivers behind DeVonta Smith — and now, Lemon.

“I think when we look at the wide receiver position again in the offseason, it felt like it was an area we wanted to address,” Roseman said. “We wanted to have a basketball team; a skillset of different players who can do different things and add to the offense and give us versatility and give us depth, hopefully to play for a long season.”

Smith was the key to a draft night deal in 2021, also with Dallas. The Eagles moved up from 12 to 10 to select Smith out of Alabama. He has three 1,000-yard receiving seasons and two Super Bowl appearances in five seasons with the Eagles.

Under Roseman, the Eagles have made a habit of draft-night deals.

They moved up from No. 10 to No. 9 in 2023 to get defensive tackle Jalen Carter. A year earlier, they went from 15 to 13 to get defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Roseman also moved up in 2019 and 2016. He traded out of the first round in 2018.

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Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Makai Lemon, USC wide receiver, works with local youth football players and Special Olympics athletes during the league's annual prospect clinic ahead of the NFL football draft Wednesday,April 22, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Makai Lemon, USA wide receiver, is interviewed after the NFL's annual prospect clinic ahead of the NFL football draft Wednesday,April 22, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon poses on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon poses after being chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 20th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't hesitate to try to fix their pass rush woes by selecting Rueben Bain Jr. with the 15th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

One of the top prospects available, even after published reports linked him to a traffic collision that resulted in the death of a passenger, Bain helped Miami to an appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship game in January and is confident he's a good fit for the Bucs.

Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht feels the same way. He said the team did its homework on the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain, who had 20 1/2 sacks in three seasons in college.

“We've known about this for a long time,” Licht said of the accident Bain was involved in March 2024. "I know it just came out a couple of weeks ago. It was a very tragic accident. Tragic experience for the family. It's something you never want to see happen.

“He's a good person,”" the GM added. “Was involved in something none of us ever want to be involved in, never want any of our loved ones to be involved."

Bain, speaking from the draft in Pittsburgh via Zoom, did not say much about the accident or how he has coped with news of the collision breaking in the weeks leading up to the draft.

“Everything has its ups and downs. I try to make everything as simple as it possibly can be, try to prioritize whatever I can prioritize at the moment,” the 21-year-old said.

Bain, whose position coach at Miami was Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, said he was relieved when his name was called. He said he has family in Tampa and expects a smooth transition to the NFL.

The Bucs went 8-9 last season, losing seven of nine games following a 6-2 start to end a string of five consecutive playoff appearances that included a Tom Brady-led Super Bowl run during the 2020 season. The lack of a consistent pass rush was one of the biggest problems on defense.

Inside linebacker, tight end and cornerback are other priorities Licht and coach Todd Bowles could address during the three-day draft. Barring trades, Tampa Bay has three of the top 77 selections overall and at least one pick in each of the final six rounds.

The team began an overhaul of the defense this winter after losing linebacker Lavonte David to retirement and not bringing back cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Haason Reddick, who became free agents. Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad signed a one-year deal with the Bucs in March after having a career-best 11 sacks with the Detroit Lions last season, and the Bucs also landed linebackers Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom in free agency.

Tampa By finished with 37 sacks last season, the team's lowest total since Bowles, who continue to call defensive plays, joined the Bucs as defensive coordinator in 2019.

Bain can hardly wait to get started.

“I feel like I'll fit in just fine,” Bain said. “Bowles is an aggressive-like minded coach and I'm an aggressive-like minded player. I feel like it's 2 and 2 put together. It's going to be real simple, real smooth.”

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Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 15th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. celebrates with fans after being chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 15th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. walks on stage before the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)