Eagles’ Makai Lemon reveals 1st interaction with Jalen Hurts after being drafted

The Philadelphia Eagles made a dramatic move during the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting USC wide receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20, just seconds before the Pittsburgh Steelers could choose him at No. 21.

This moment quickly went viral, as the Steelers were reportedly on the phone with Lemon, intending to draft him, when the Eagles intervened.

Lemon later told the Associated Press that the chaotic moment felt “meant to be,” expressing his relief and excitement to join the Eagles instead of their cross-state rivals.

That excitement quickly developed into a professional connection.

Olivia Reiner reported on X that Lemon has already heard from his new quarterback, Jalen Hurts.

The rookie revealed that Hurts reached out via text to congratulate him, and Lemon responded with his characteristic focus: “I’m ready to get to work.”

This immediate rapport isn’t surprising to those familiar with both players.

Dennis Simmons, the wide receivers coach at USC who also coached Hurts at Oklahoma in 2019, noted striking similarities in their personalities.

Simmons described Lemon as a “direct, detail-oriented” individual with a “business-first” mentality, mirroring the straightforward approach that has defined Hurts’ career.

According to Simmons, this no-nonsense attitude is precisely why Philadelphia fans will quickly embrace the rookie.

While Lemon’s addition injects fresh energy into the offense, it hasn’t completely quelled rumors surrounding star veteran AJ Brown.

Following the first round of the draft, General Manager Howie Roseman addressed speculation, clarifying that no trades have been made and that Brown remains with the Eagles.

Roseman took a measured approach, stating that the team is approaching the roster-building process “one day at a time.”

Although the front office is focused on maximizing value through the remainder of the draft weekend, the addition of a high-caliber talent like Lemon ensures that the Eagles have plenty of leverage as they navigate the rest of the offseason.

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