The 2026 NFL Draft was as surprising as it was exciting. From unpredictable draft selections to some major droppers, the draft saw it all. However, one of the more bizarre stories of recent times came with the selection process of Makai Lemon.
In a shocking twist, the Dallas Cowboys traded with a divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, to help them acquire the star wide receiver. The rationale from a polarizing owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, found an immediate supporter in Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce Understands Jerry Jones’ Thinking Behind Makai Lemon
On the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers to get selected at pick number 21, Lemon ultimately wound up with the Eagles. Trading picks 23, 114, and 137, they moved up three spots, as Dallas parted ways with an additional 2027 seventh-round pick.
It helped Philly bring in Lemon, which could potentially make them an even more dangerous threat in the NFC East. However, Jones doesn’t see it that way. Instead, he offered a rather straightforward explanation about the move.
“If you eliminate all the teams that I want to beat their ass, you wouldn’t have anybody to trade with, so to speak,” Jones said about his decision to trade with the Eagles. The Kansas City Chiefs legend and one of the greatest tight ends of all-time, Kelce, saw eye to eye with Jones on this particular matter.
During the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast alongside his brother and Eagles legend Jason Kelce, he explained, “He [Jerry] wants to whoop everybody’s a**, not just the Eagles. So if he needs to trade, he’s not just, you know, not trading to one team.”
Over the last couple of years, Jones has been extremely trade-happy throughout the league. From parting ways with Micah Parsons to bringing in Quinnen Williams, the Cowboys have been very active in the trade market.
Now, Jones’ mentality is becoming a little clearer, and it isn’t completely random. However, the Eagles seemed dysfunctional throughout the regular season last year. As a result, after winning the Super Bowl, they lost in the Wild Card Round.
Now, it seems inevitable that A.J. Brown will be moved from the roster, with the New England Patriots emerging as the preminent landing spot. That leaves them with a massive hole at the wide receiver spot.
The trade with the Cowboys has given them, at least in theory, a replacement for their superstar wide receiver. But Jones seems to think the trade value could work out in Dallas’ favor.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Last year, after ranking dead last on PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, Dallas needed more players on that side of the football. As a result, a collection of draft picks, almost all of which were used to bring in defensive guys, might be the perfect recipe for the Cowboys.
Now, after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, they have a chance to make it back to the postseason, and with both sides of the football humming, make a real run.
