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With the 21st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Makai Lemon, wide receiver, USC. At least, that’s what they thought.
The Steelers had their first-round pick all lined up and even had Lemon on the phone as the Dallas Cowboys were set to select Malachi Lawrence with pick No. 20. But then things changed.
The Philadelphia Eagles caught wind of Pittsburgh’s plans and traded up with the Cowboys, swapping pick No. 23 for pick No. 23 and giving up two fourth-round picks in the process in order to select Lemon.
That left the Steelers high and dry, and Pittsburgh ultimately selected Max Iheanachor, a tackle out of Arizona State who has plenty of upside. But it wasn’t who Pittsburgh wanted, and now the entire world knows.
To make matters worse, things could get even more dicey for the Steelers’ organization.
Pittsburgh Steelers May Have Violated Rule With Makai Lemon Phone Call
In a now-viral video, Lemon was on the phone talking to the Steelers when the Philadelphia Eagles called him and informed him that they planned on taking him No. 20 overall.
Not only did it make for an awkward moment for Pittsburgh, but it may have also been a violation of NFL rules.
Clubs that are not “on the clock” may have discussions with the representative of one or more draft-eligible players not yet selected (or discussion with the players themselves) regarding the player’s interest in playing in the League, playing with a particular club or type of… https://t.co/5gdpABUJEY
— Jake Rosenberg (@jakerosenberg33) April 24, 2026
Former Philadelphia Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg pointed out on X that NFL rules do not allow teams to interfere with a player and a team that is currently “on the clock” in the draft. At the time the Steelers were speaking with Lemon, the Eagles were technically on the clock
“Clubs that are not ‘on the clock’ may have discussions with the representative of one or more draft-eligible players not yet selected (or discussion with the players themselves) regarding the player’s interest in playing in the League, playing with a particular club or type of club, the player’s health, or other such non-financial matters, so long as these discussions do not interfere with discussions between a player and the club that is ‘on the clock,'” the rule states.
Now, clearly, Pittsburgh did not know Philadelphia had acquired pick No. 20. And it likely won’t face any punishment from the league for that very reason.
But it’s certainly possible the NFL determines otherwise, and the Steelers’ blunder ends up costing them more than just Lemon.