Steelers thought they were getting Makai Lemon, didn't realize Eagles had cut the line

As the Steelers moved quickly with the truncated window to make their first pick in the 2026 draft, they didn't know the guy they wanted was already gone.

Steelers thought they were getting Makai Lemon, didn't realize Eagles had cut the line

As the Steelers moved quickly with the truncated window to make their first pick in the 2026 draft, they didn't know the guy they wanted was already gone.

As the Steelers moved quickly with the truncated window to make their first pick in the 2026 draft, they didn't know the guy they wanted was already gone.

Via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Steelers thought receiver Makai Lemon would be available at No. 21. They didn't know the Eagles had moved up to No. 20 with the Cowboys to snatch Lemon.

Rapoport reports that the Steelers tried to call Lemon without realizing the Eagles had moved up. They weren't able to reach him because he was talking to the Eagles.

New Steelers coach Mike McCarthy can thank one of his former teams for giving the Lemon pick to a division rival. Without the trade down, the Cowboys wouldn't have taken Lemon. The trade let it happen.

Steelers thought they were getting Makai Lemon, didn't realize Eagles had cut the line

Steelers thought they were getting Makai Lemon, didn't realize Eagles had cut the line