Things can be overwhelming for a rookie when they first enter the NFL, but Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick wide receiver Makai Lemon seems to be doing well with the transition.
The Eagles traded up three spots to select Lemon as the replacement for A.J. Brown, who would eventually be traded to the New England Patriots. Recently, rookies around the NFL were part of the NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles, where Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano interviewed Lemon, asking him about playing with Jalen Hurts and his first impression.
"Just being around him, getting to chop it up, running routes with him, being on the field with him. It's definitely such a great feeling. I'veseen him on TV ever since I was a little child. He's a little older than me, so it's definitely a great feeling to have him as my quarterback."
Makai Lemon is enjoying his time with Jalen Hurts and his new Eagles teammates
Lemon and Hurts seem to be already building good chemistry at OTAs, with multiple highlights of Lemon showing off his route-running skills and his quick feet. Eagles fans also got to see his reliable hands, proving that he will be a good fit in the slot.
Manzano followed up by asking about Saquon Barkley and hearing the good reputation around him. Lemon made sure to give all of his new teammates love.
"All the guys really cool for real on the team. They like brothers, real strong brotherhood. And then when we step onto the field, we just compete. So I feel like that's what brings our brotherhood even stronger and makes us such a great team because everybody is close together."
Everyone wants to think the Eagles' culture is such a mess and that there is always drama around the team when, in reality, it was really just one person who caused it: A.J. Brown. Now that he's gone, there is a different energy to the Eagles that shows that things are in a good place. This franchise has been a winner for a long time, no matter what they had to deal with.
Lemon should be happy in Philly, as he seems to fit the culture well already. The hope is that he will be a good fit in the offense after a stellar 2025 season with the USC Trojans, during which he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best wide receiver.
Read more: Darius Slay said what Eagles fans have seen for years with Jalen Hurts
While more attention will be on DeVonta Smith as he truly steps into Brown's WR1 role in 2026, Lemon will be a focal point to see how he handles the pressure of the NFL in Year 1. He's got good teammates and coaches around him to help make him successful, despite what some might think about the Eagles' culture.
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