Just days after selecting the USC standout Makai Lemon with the No. 20 overall pick, Philadelphia locked him with a four-year rookie deal worth over $20.9 million, including a huge $11.5 million signing bonus. This move has shown us that the Eagles are serious with Lemon and are looking to keep him for a long term. Will this move turn out to be good or bad, time will only tell.
As soon as the news broke out, reactions poured in. Some in favour and some were against the move.
“Giving a rookie wide receiver eleven million up front is a massive gamble,” one user wrote.
Another raised similar concerns about the risk involved:
“Some teams will get wrecked because of fully guaranteed deals. Others won’t. Better do their homework.”
“That’s a dumb a** deal for the team to make,” another user wrote.
“Oh look, another wide receiver for Philly I’m sure they really needed more weapons,” one fan humorously wrote.
Not everyone was against the deal, a lot of fans were also in support.
“That’s a huge start, first-round money fully guaranteed with that kind of signing bonus means the team is all-in on him from day one,” one fan wrote.
Another added:
“That’s a massive start to his career. Shows real belief in his future.”
Why the Eagles Are Betting Big on Makai Lemon
This move makes sense when you look at Lemon’s college resume. The former USC wideout was one of the most productive receivers in the country last season while finishing with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.
With DeVonta Smith expected to step into a WR1 role, Lemon is expected to contribute early to the team. The Eagles now have clearly signaled that he is a priority for them.
That said, there’s no denying the stakes. A fully guaranteed deal with a massive signing bonus places immediate pressure on him to deliver.
But for Nick Sirianni, this isn’t something new. He has consistently leaned into bold roster building strategies and he is used to taking risks for the team to win the championship.
Now, it’s more about whether the new addition Lemon can live up to the investment.
If he plays well, the Eagles could have landed one of the strongest offensive weapons in this draft class. If not, the “massive gamble” narrative fits here perfectly.
Also Read:
Who Are Makai Lemon’s Parents Michael and Brandy Lemon? All We Know About USC WR’s Family
Makai Lemon 40 Time: How Fast Was USC Star WR at Pro Day?
Who Is Eagles Rookie Uar Bernard? All We Know About ‘Next Myles Garrett’ From Nigeria
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