Report: "Not the first time" the Steelers called a prospect early
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- During the 2026 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers called receiver Makai Lemon before their official pick at No. 22, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to trade up and select Lemon at No. 21.
- Mike Sando of The Athletic reports that the Steelers may have used this tactic before, aiming to tie up phone lines so other teams cannot contact the player and reveal their draft intentions.
- An unnamed executive explained that calling a player prematurely can signal to other teams who is being targeted, potentially influencing their draft decisions.
- Several league insiders believe this practice is inappropriate, with one executive stating that calls should only be made once a team is officially on the clock.
- The incident has sparked debate about draft etiquette and whether such tactics should be considered acceptable in future drafts.
