Projecting Makai Lemon's rookie season after Eagles' A.J. Brown trade

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For months, the football world had assumed that when the calendar turned to June, the Philadelphia Eagles would close the book on A.J. Brown.

On Monday, it became official.

Philadelphia dealt Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round selection. The move gave Drake Maye his co-star; the Patriots will hope he’s the next receiver to usher in an unlocking under center. The Eagles, though, have a superstar-sized hole on the boundary and the eyes of the football world on them.

Makai Lemon rookie projections

The biggest piece of Philadelphia’s puzzle in a post-Brown era is wide receiver Makai Lemon. Taken in the first round this April — a potential tipped hand toward the eventual Brown trade — Lemon comes with sky-high expectations and big shoes to fill.

At No. 20, Lemon was excellent value, but the fit in Philadelphia is questionable. Jalen Hurts struggles over the middle of the field, and while I expect Lemon to grow into a versatile role, he’s likely to see most of his snaps from the slot. Brown, meanwhile, took those snaps less frequently than virtually every qualified receiver. 

Perhaps offensive coordinator Sean Mannion can ease that tradition by normalizing the Eagles’ offense and fostering development from Hurts. Doing so could be significant for Lemon’s rookie-year production.

In my projection model, Lemon saw an unsurprising boost from Brown’s departure.

Median projection: 94 targets, 59 receptions, 746 yards, 4.1 touchdowns

Those numbers don’t pop off the screen, but given the absence of prior NFL production skewing him toward league average, there’s little reason for concern. He trails only DeVonta Smith among Philadelphia’s pass catchers (133 targets, 94 receptions, 1,203 yards, 3.1 touchdowns) and is in line with his fellow first-round picks around the league.

With the draft capital invested in Lemon and a newfound urgency to address Hurts’ limitations, the rookie is in line for a significant share of Philadelphia’s targets. 

MORE: Grading the A.J. Brown trade

Lemon’s targets are unlikely to come as far downfield as Brown, who seemed to specialize in winning one-on-one battles downfield. When Hurts was at his best, it was nearly impossible to defend. In 2025, it wasn’t quite as efficient. Lemon can make the occasional splash play, but his route running, after-the-catch production, and body control all play up in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field, where he can offer Hurts a security blanket.

The shape of his targets might dampen his overall upside — he’s not the field stretcher that Carnell Tate is, and he may not be quite as effective at dismantling man coverage as Jordyn Tyson. Yet, Lemon is incredibly quarterback-friendly, and Philadelphia’s offense can use a steady hand.

Expect Philadelphia’s rookie to flirt with triple-digit targets as he looks to establish himself as an acceptable replacement for Brown. Filling his shoes won’t be a one-man job, but Lemon is an awfully good start. 

The Eagles are in flux. Through it all, Philadelphia has remained competitive, earning Howie Roseman trust amid the turbulence. With Lemon’s propensity for production, it might not take much for the Philly faithful to fall in love.

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