Eagles trade with Cowboys, pick Makai Lemon at No. 20 in NFL draft

The Philadelphia Eagles made a trade with the division-rival Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, selectingUSCwide receiver Makai Lemon with the No. 20 pick in the NFL draft.

The Cowboys received the No. 23 pick and two fourth-round selections (Nos. 114 and 137) from Philadelphia for the 20th pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

The addition of Lemon is yet another indication that A.J. Brown is likely to be traded at some point. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Brown is likely to be traded to New England Patriots on or after June 1. The two sides have discussed a deal, but neither has been willing to commit to it until after June 1, when Brown's $40 million salary cap charge will be split between this year and next.

Philadelphia had to fend off its intrastate rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, to land the Biletnikoff Award Winner. Lemon confirmed on a conference call with local media that he was on the phone with the Steelers, who were about to be on the clock at pick 21, when a call came in from the Eagles saying they had traded up to select him.

"I feel like everything happened for a reason," he said. "They traded up so it means a lot that they really wanted me. I'm all in and they're going to get everything that I've got."

Lemon had 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season to earn All-America honors. He had 137 catches for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns in his college career.

He wasn't expected to even be in range. According to ESPN Analytics' Draft Predictor, entering the draft there was a 4% chance he would be available at pick 20.

The Eagles also have signed free agent wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore and acquired wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks in a trade with the Green Bay Packers this offseason.br/]