When it seemed like the Philadelphia Eagles were not going to get any of their guys in the first round, general manager Howie Roseman made the gutsy move to trade up and select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick.
This is a selection that has received a ton of praise from NFL experts, with the Eagles getting one of the top receivers in the draft, but that doesn't mean Lemon hasn't been talked about for being a bit undersized and not as fast as others at his position. In his introductory press conference, Lemon was asked about what it takes for an undersized receiver to play big, and his response was perfect.
“I think it’s just the mentality and the heart that you play with," Lemon said via NBC Sports Philadelphia's Dave Zangaro. "The body type, you can get fooled by that. Your heart and your mentality that you approach to the game can take you a lot farther than just your height and your size.”
Makai Lemon responds to how he works through being undersized
Even at 5-foot-11, Lemon can still play at a high level in the NFL. He's got great hands and can make all the tough catches while being a precise route runner, as he will find a nice spot in the slot for the Eagles.
Everyone needs to remember how successful he was at USC, winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation's best wide receiver last season. He caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Trojans. Those are the kind of numbers Eagles fans are looking for him to put up.
Read more: 3 winners (and 2 losers) from Eagles' eye-popping trade up for Makai Lemon
Sure, having the size and speed would be great to have, but Lemon can do everything else perfectly, which is what made him a great draft prospect going into the offseason. While it'll take time for him to get there, he might end up being a star in this league sooner than some expect.
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