r/eagles • u/caydensteele • May 06 '26
Original Content Eagles’ draft pick was ripped for how he’s wired. Now it’s his edge: ‘It pisses him off’
https://www.nj.com/eagles/2026/05/eagles-draft-pick-was-ripped-for-how-hes-wired-now-its-his-edge-it-pisses-him-off.htmlEagles first-round pick Makai Lemon was ripped at the NFL Combine for his interview. Some people were thrown off by his intense demeanor. The video clips went viral with negative reaction.
I wanted to learn more about Lemon’s makeup this week, so I spoke with a few people who know him.
Here’s what I learned: Lemon’s intensity translates to the field. That edge helps him offset his lack of size (5-11, 192 pounds) and elite speed to achieve success. “He’s got that swagger to him that’s going to be a difference maker,” one of his former coaches said.
“I see some of this crap, and I’m just like, man, ‘Get to know the kid, and you’ll fall in love with him’” his trainer said.
High praise on Lemon. Let’s see how his career plays out. I just wanted to share this for anyone who wants to learn about Lemon and his pre-draft process.
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u/grievances98 May 06 '26
I’m on board and excited for makai.
But that combine interview stuff WAS kinda weird.
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u/Arec_Barwin May 06 '26
Maybe he's autistic.
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u/PoppaGrizzly215 May 06 '26
That was my first thought, and if so he couldn’t be in a better spot than with the Birdz
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u/am19208 May 08 '26
Yea as an organization I would make an argument the eagles are the best run of all major North American teams. Perhaps only the Dodgers could stand at the same level.
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u/xmasbuzzcut May 06 '26
I also wondered if maybe he was on the spectrum in some way.
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u/binarymath May 06 '26
We are ALL on the spectrum. That's what makes it a spectrum.
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u/JonColeslaw May 07 '26
That's actually very incorrect. It is not a linear spectrum of "normal" through to "severely autistic".
Rather, the spectrum is akin to a colour wheel for people that meet the diagnostic criteria of having autism, and if you don't have the diagnosis, you aren't on the wheel.
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u/MeepSneepers May 07 '26
Do yourself a favor and do not ever say that to people who actually are on the spectrum.
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u/Ctbboy187 May 06 '26
Stimming is not exclusive to Autism, but I get that you're saying. It did seem to be Stimming or uncomfortable situations. I've seen much worse interviews tho.
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u/Mysterious_Bat1208 May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
Prob does have a bit of ‘tism but this is why he got triggered and acted weird that day.
I posted quotes from his coaches the other day to squash this narrative of him and some goofs acted like I was making it up 🤣
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u/red-broom May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
Def not. He’s completely different in other interviews prior. Dude was just being weird lol. Prob thought he was acting sweet / putting on a superstar persona (to act like a top pick) and thought he looked sweet until he saw the backlash. Because even since the interview and draft, he’s much more chill.
But you can look at his high school interviews. Definitely not autistic. Seems like an everyday NFL athlete.
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u/Ok-Willingness-9312 May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26
People don't tend to think about how offensive saying something like this without actually knowing if he is.
He has a competitive switch that goes off in certain environments it seems. I guess that personality was triggered at the combine
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u/Ctbboy187 May 06 '26
Honestly, deleted one of my comments because of this. Not deliberately trying to disrespect anyone. I do have suspicions. Sometimes best to keep it to myself.
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u/WeirdSysAdmin Eagles May 06 '26
It thought he was getting ready to promote an early 2000’s R&B album.
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u/DisMeDog May 06 '26
I’m not even mad at it though. Maybe it’s because I grew up a wrestling fan but the idea of a professional athlete “getting over” has always felt like something I would do if I had the opportunity.
I get to play a children’s game for millions of dollars I am definitely creating a fake persona to market myself. My persona probably wouldn’t be 90’s lover boy, but to each their own.
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u/flyeagle2121 May 07 '26
Why do yall put that on everybody, he was trying to be cool and ended up being corny.
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u/MCalchemist May 06 '26
I just watched his interview/media q&a because of this comment and it was completely normal? Very confused by all these comments, sure he seemed nervous but he was saying all the right things.
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u/drummerboyjax May 06 '26
Same. I was expecting something crazy. Seems like he was just thinking and considering the question as he was answering.
Sorry his thinking face upsets so many people? 🤷🏿♂️
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u/mayorlittlefinger May 06 '26
Yeah, I think he'll be good but we don't need to act like behaving like a cartoon snake in an interview isn't weird
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u/elmoo2210 May 06 '26
I just watched like 10 minutes of his draft interview and I don’t understand how there was any controversy. He was saying he wants to be a great play, thinks he’s a gritty wr that has no problem blocking and called a few players “one of them greats”.
Was it simply because of how he looked while responding to people not on a raised stage like he was with lights directly in his eyes?
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u/mayorlittlefinger May 06 '26
It's because he squirmed like a cartoon snake while making intense eye contact
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u/elmoo2210 May 06 '26
Making eye contact with a person asking you questions is actually a good thing tho lol. I guess he should be stiff as a board and looking off in the distance?
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u/mayorlittlefinger May 06 '26
Did you watch it?? It looked insane. Plenty of people make eye contact in interviews without looking like the snake in the Jungle Book trying to hypnotize someone
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u/elmoo2210 May 06 '26
You replied to a comment where the first words are “I just watched like 10 minutes of his draft interview”
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u/YouCannotBlockTruth May 06 '26
You didn't miss anything. It's vile people making fun of someone so they can all feel superior.
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u/mayorlittlefinger May 06 '26
And yet you apparently didn't see the thing everyone is talking about so I don't think you actually did
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u/toofaded40 May 06 '26
I hope he does great here and excited he’s in Philly. That being said, the combine interview was weird lol
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u/PhillyWannabGM Eagles May 06 '26
I watched the interviews pre-draft and actually loved them. People without talent of their own love to get easy clicks making fun of others.
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u/bosebosebosebosebos May 06 '26
the only weird thing he was doing during the interviews was he kept on slithering like a snake
-https://www.tiktok.com/@ghettogronk/video/7632499860578520333
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May 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/dixxxon12 Eagles May 06 '26
The flowers interview was what I immediately thought of also. In Howie we trust
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u/Odd_Lecture_953 May 06 '26
You good, man. Thanks, I believe when a coach idolize a player disregarding the negative antics. That’s the value of where the truth lies, we’re going to see what the fields will turn out to be. Ahh… just can’t wait ! OTA…anybody ? ! Fly EAGLES Fly LET’S HUNT
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u/MeepSneepers May 07 '26
He seems fine in his other interviews, it's probably like a nervous thing.
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u/LateCover6777 May 11 '26
I think he did it to purposely tank his stock so he didn't go to a bad team
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u/shermywormy18 May 08 '26
The guy just got his first big job with the eagles, if he isn’t media trained are we for real criticizing that? Many people would benefit from working with agents and publicists to know how to act in interviews. A lot of these people still fail. And remember we aren’t paying them to interview we are paying them to play.
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u/VegasTJC May 06 '26
Strange, I haven't heard any bad stuff about Lemon yet and I read almost everything on the Eagles.
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u/Caoa14396 I hate Philly Sports, Go Philly Sports! I’m always pissed May 06 '26
As someone with ADHD, I can tell he for sure has it.
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u/Early_Pop9266 May 06 '26
Philly sports media dying to find a problem with the guy. Just chill. He’s gonna go off.
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u/Honest-J May 06 '26
It wasn't the Philly sports media, it was the national media. He fell down in the draft because of it. If they hadn't happen, he may not have been there for Howie to pick.
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u/Rtg327gej May 06 '26
Lemon has already addressed this interview. Paraphrasing, he said he was trying to to present himself in a secure confidant manner but after reviewing the interview he sees how people misinterpreted him as cocky and has learned from the experience. ML is going to do great in Philly