Steelers thought they were getting Makai Lemon, didn't realize Eagles had cut the line
NBC Sports • • general
Key Points:
- The Steelers aimed to select receiver Makai Lemon with their first pick at No. 21 in the 2026 draft but were unaware he had already been taken.
- The Philadelphia Eagles traded up to No. 20 with the Dallas Cowboys to draft Lemon before the Steelers' turn.
- The Steelers called Lemon without knowing about the Eagles' move, during which Lemon was on the phone with Pittsburgh and unavailable to Philadelphia.
- The trade between the Eagles and Cowboys enabled the Eagles to acquire Lemon, indirectly affecting the Steelers' draft plans.
- New Steelers coach Mike McCarthy's former team, the Dallas Cowboys, played a role in the situation by facilitating the trade that allowed a division rival to select Lemon.
