The Dallas Cowboys' first round will be remembered for quite some time. Early on, the Cowboys traded up one spot to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick. Later on in the first round, the Cowboys gave an assist to the Philadelphia Eagles, moving down from the No. 20 spot to No. 23, allowing the Eagles to draft USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
It does sting as a fan when your favorite team trades with a division rival. All Cowboys fans can hope for is that Lemon doesn't turn out to be a difference maker and a problem on the field when the two NFC East teams face off head-to-head.
Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant isn't too sold on Lemon as a legitimate top pass catcher for the Eagles, believing that he is "a borderline number two receiver...maybe number three in the NFL." Additionally, Bryant believes that Lemon was a beneficiary while playing alongside Ja'Kobi Lane at USC.
I believe Lemon had the success he had because Jakobi Lane shared the field with him. I bet a lot of Lemon's targets came from being on the same side as Lane. Folks want to compare him to Steve Smith..and it's not close. Lemon is a borderline number 2 receiver…maybe number 3 in… https://t.co/N5SAKcuamC
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) April 24, 2026
Dallas Cowboys icon Dez Bryant doesn't love Eagles' first-round pick Makai Lemon
"I believe Lemon had the success he had because Jakobi Lane shared the field with him," said Bryant. "I bet a lot of Lemon's targets came from being on the same side as Lane. Folks want to compare him to Steve Smith..and it's not close. Lemon is a borderline number 2 receiver…maybe number 3 in the NFL..he's a volume guy on a team that's not pass heavy. Barkley..Smith, Goedert..he's going to be fourth in target sharing no matter the system."
Bryant was asked for his thoughts on Lemon, and let it be known he just doesn't see how he can succeed in Philadelphia. Cowboys fans certainly hope that he doesn't pan out on the Eagles, especially since he'll be replacing A.J. Brown, who's going to be traded at some point this offseason.
Let's not forget that the Eagles were far from the only team interested in Lemon. The Pittsburgh Steelers were on the phone with Lemon when the Cowboys were on the clock with the 20th overall pick, thinking Dallas would stick and take a defensive player.
Instead, they dealt the pick to the Eagles, who called Lemon while he was on the phone with Lemon to let him know they were drafting him.
This past season at USC, Lemon caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Meanwhile Lane hauled in 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns in the 2025 season with the Trojans. Back in 2024, Lemon recorded 52 receptions for 764 yards and three touchdowns, while Lane put up 43 receptions for 525 yards and 12 touchdowns.
For Cowboys fans' sake, they better hope that Bryant's scouting report is correct and that Lemon doesn't turn out to be a wide receiver that will haunt the Cowboys for years to come. The only way to find out is once the games begin.
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