Makai Lemon scored before he even stepped on an NFL field. The wide receiver became the first player from the 2026 draft class to finalize a contract with his team.

Lemon signed his four-year rookie deal with the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after being selected 20th overall.  The contract is worth just over $20.8 million, all fully guaranteed, with a signing bonus north of $11.5 million.

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Makai Lemon arrived in Philadelphia after a productive final season at USC, where he caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns.

A new chapter is starting, and Lemon already secured approval from one of the franchise’s most respected figures. He will wear No. 9, a number that sat unused since Nick Foles departed after the 2018 season.

Foles earned Super Bowl LII MVP honors in that jersey, so many assumed it would stay retired for years. However, before anything went official, Lemon called Foles and got his blessing to take the number. With that cleared, No. 9 is back on the field.

“Appreciate the Eagles so much. Nick Foles, especially. To pass that number down, because I know he easily could’ve kept that number to himself. Such a great player when he was here, wearing that No. 9, led them to the Super Bowl. So, I appreciate him so much.”

#Eagles first-round WR Makai Lemon says he’ll wear No. 9 in Philadelphia after Nick Foles gave him his blessing and wanted to pass it down.

No active Eagles player has worn the number since Foles.

(📽️ @Eagles) pic.twitter.com/WJFVkWxbMM

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 30, 2026

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Lemon’s Jersey Choice Carries Weight

Makai Lemon wore No. 6 at USC, but that option disappeared once he reached Philadelphia. DeVonta Smith already claimed it. He still landed a single-digit number, though, and picked one that looks like his old jersey when flipped upside down.

No. 9 carries real history in the city. Foles made it iconic during Super Bowl LII, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

He also caught a touchdown on the famous Philly Special in the 41-33 win over the New England Patriots. It marked the franchise’s first Super Bowl title after he replaced the injured Carson Wentz earlier that season.