Makai Lemon Philadelphia Eagles jersey number comes with Super Bowl champ’s blessing
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.
MORE: Matthew Stafford’s wife Kelly reveals why she walked away from her podcast 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.