Eagles draft grades roundup: How good was the Makai Lemon pick? Did Howie Roseman win the trade with the Cowboys?

Death. Taxes. Howie Roseman trading up.

In what has become an almost yearly tradition, the longtime Eagles general manager moved up in the first round of the NFL draft — this time to select University of Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Lemon caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season at USC, where he primarily worked in the slot. For his efforts, he was awarded the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to college football’s best receiver.

The Eagles traded two fourth-round picks to Dallas to move up three spots. Notably, the Eagles leapfrogged draft host Pittsburgh, which was looking to select Lemon with the 21st pick. In fact, Lemon was already on the phone with the Steelers when Roseman came calling.

Here’s what NFL analysts are saying about the Eagles’ newest wideout …

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter approved of the Eagles selection, but felt sending the Cowboys two midround picks was a cause of concern.

“Trading two fourth-round picks to division-rival Dallas wasn’t a major investment in draft capital, but it still gives the Cowboys ammunition to improve their roster,” Reuter wrote. “The Steelers could have picked Lemon if the Eagles didn’t trade up, so Philadelphia needed to make a move to secure his services. Lemon is as competitive a pass catcher as I’ve ever seen.”

» READ MORE: Beyond the grade: 360-degree analysis of Eagles Day 1 pick Makai Lemon

Reuter also noted that Lemon’s “average size and athleticism” made his selection “a bit of a risk.”

The wideout is listed at 5-foot-11 and 195-pounds. He will be paired alongside another slim receiver and fellow Biletnikoff winner, DeVonta Smith, who is 6-foot and 170-pounds.

CBS Sports’ Mike Renner approves of the selection — especially because A.J. Brown is likely on the move.

“With A.J. Brown’s impending departure, the Eagles get an NFL-ready receiver who plays with a similar physicality — even if he doesn’t have Brown’s size,” Renner wrote. “Lemon has very few weaknesses outside of his size and should be able to step into a slot role and be productive from Day 1.”

On Monday, ESPN reported that Brown is likely to be dealt to the Patriots on or after June 1, once the wideout’s $40 million salary cap charge can be split over the next two years. However, Roseman is not attributing Lemon’s selection to any prospective Brown trade.

“A. J. is a member of the Eagles. We don’t have any trades that have been made, or that are done,” Roseman told reporters Thursday. “And I think for us, we’re taking this one day at a time.”

» READ MORE: A.J. Brown was always leaving the Eagles. Drafting Makai Lemon just confirmed that reality.

ESPN’s Seth Walder looked to grade the entirety of the Eagles and Cowboys trade. Although feeling that Lemon filled “an immediate need” for Philadelphia, he wrote that the Cowboys won the intra-NFC East trade.

“In a vacuum, the Eagles lost out in this swap,” Walder wrote. “The two fourths are, on average, worth more than the difference between the player the Eagles could have landed at 20 vs. 23, according to ESPN’s draft pick valuations. Because of that, I would not have made this trade — but I’m not too down on the deal from Philadelphia’s perspective because Lemon slid down the board and there seems to be a clear tier drop at wide receiver after him.”

After drafting star Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th pick, the Cowboys went on to select UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd pick.

The Eagles have five draft picks remaining: No. 54, No. 68, No. 98, No. 178, and No. 197.