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Eagles Move On From A.J. Brown as Rookie Makai Lemon Sits Out OTAs With Minor Hamstring Issue

The team’s first-round pick is being treated as a core piece of the receiver room and is expected to be ready for training camp despite missing the rest of spring practices.

Overview

  • The Eagles traded A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, a move that was completed on Monday and formalizes the club’s roster shift.
  • Philadelphia drafted Makai Lemon at No. 20 overall and signed him to a four-year fully guaranteed rookie deal that includes an $11.5 million signing bonus.
  • Lemon received early first-team reps with Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith during OTAs, signaling the coaching staff’s intent to integrate him quickly into the offense.
  • Media and team insiders reported Lemon stood on the sideline wearing a sleeve at a media-attended OTA and is being treated for a soft-tissue hamstring issue that will keep him out of the remainder of spring practices but is not expected to be long-term.
  • Analysts project Lemon as a target-heavy short-to-intermediate weapon rather than a like-for-like deep boundary replacement for Brown, which means the Eagles will rely on a mix of receivers and scheme adjustments to replace Brown’s production.