Howie Roseman Explains Trading Up to Draft Makai Lemon After Viral Steelers

Howie Roseman Explains Trading Up to Draft Makai Lemon After Viral Steelers

*Howie Roseman Explains Trading Up for Makai Lemon After Viral Steelers Call* 🏈

 

*What Happened — The Viral Draft Moment*

1. *Steelers were on the phone*: Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan called USC WR *Makai Lemon* at pick #21, saying _“Makai, it’s Omar from the Steelers. How are ya?”_

2. *Eagles sniped him*: While Lemon was talking to Pittsburgh, the Eagles traded up from #23 to #20 with Dallas. Philly’s call popped up on Lemon’s phone mid-conversation.

3. *Lemon’s reaction*: _“Wait, why is Philly calling me?”_ he said to Khan. His agent ran over: _“This is Philly. They just traded for you”_.

*Howie Roseman’s Explanation*

Eagles GM Howie Roseman said it _wasn’t_ specifically about jumping Pittsburgh:

 

1. *“We wanted the player”*: _“More importantly for us than who anyone else wants, it’s who we want and who we wanna go get”_. The Eagles had Lemon ranked top-10 to top-15 on their board.

 

2. *They tried to go even higher*: _“If we’re being totally transparent, it wasn’t like we were just trying to get to [pick No. 20]… We were trying to get ahead of that pick”_. Dallas at #20 just happened to be the deal they could make.

 

3. *Why the urgency*: _“When you have a player that’s ranked higher on your board than where you’re picking, you think every pick that he’s gonna be selected”_. Roseman said it took a few minutes to reach Lemon, which _“hasn’t happened very often”_.

 

4. *The ‘dark place’ comment*: Roseman said calling players immediately is about peace of mind — _“God forbid something happens… You just don’t know where they are”_. He once had a player go for a walk when he wasn’t picked yet.

 

*The Trade Details*

– *Eagles gave up*: Picks 23, 114, and 137 _to Dallas_

– *Eagles got*: Pick #20 + a 2027 7th-rounder

– *Steelers response*: Took OT Max Researcher at #21

*Why Lemon? A.J. Brown Context*

1. *Lemon’s talent*: 79 catches, 1,156 yards, 11 TDs at USC in 2025. Won Biletnikoff Award. Roseman: _“Competitor… ability to separate in man coverage… really good with the ball in his hands”_.

2. *A.J. Brown rumors*: Eagles are expected to trade Pro Bowl We A.J. Brown to Patriots after June 1. Drafting Lemon looks like _“preemptive move for Jalen Hurts’ future weapon”_. CBS Sports: _“effectively cements the idea that A.J. Brown is on the way out”_.

 

*The Fallout*

– *Eagles trolling*: Philly trolled Steelers on Twitter after

– *Steelers fans*: Heated, but analysts say OT Max Anchor was good value

– *Lemon’s contract*: 4 years, $20.8M fully guaranteed with $11.5M signing bonus

 

Roseman summed it up: _“We didn’t want to sit on our hands. We wanted to go get him”_.

 

Want the video clip of the actual phone call?