After setting a new attendance record, it's safe to say that hosting the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was a huge success. As far as the Pittsburgh Steelers themselves, their weekend was one of the strangest among all 32 NFL teams.
It all started Thursday in Round 1, where the Steelers were taken 21st overall. It appears Pittsburgh did what every team does: try to get in touch with the player they plan to select.
The only issue? Pittsburgh just wasn't on time. It was actually the Dallas Cowboys' turn to pick the No. 20 pick. Perhaps the Steelers felt strongly about the Cowboys not choosing their target. Still, Pittsburgh did not anticipate that Dallas might trade the pick elsewhere.
That's exactly what happened when the Cowboys made a trade with their NFC East division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. The real weird part came when the Eagles tried to call USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who was already on the phone with the Steelers.
Once his people informed him that the Eagles were on the clock, Lemon immediately hung up the phone on the Steelers and started talking to Philadelphia, which was actually selecting them at 20th overall instead of landing them at 21 with Pittsburgh.
This is the moment Makai Lemon thought he was going to be drafted #steelers And realizing in real time that #eagle traded through @gmfb This morning.
He asked Omar Khan "Why is Philly calling?" [me]?" pic.twitter.com/AbXDJONYye
- Ross McCorkle (@Ross_McCorkle) 24 April 2026
According to former Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg, the Steelers may have violated NFL rules by keeping in contact with Lemon when he was not actually on the clock. According to , the NFL intends to examine the Steelers' draft strategy now that the three-day event has ended. However, he expressed doubt that the league would assess any type of penalty.
"This probably isn't something the league will care about. With the first round being shortened by eight minutes, there will be complications from time to time. Ultimately, it didn't stop the Eagles from acquiring Lemon. And the embarrassment might be enough punishment for the team that is hosting the draft."
PFT failed pick on Steelers/Makai Lemon
We're guessing this won't be a big deal. But in the incredibly competitive NFL, it doesn't take much for a team and agent to create controversy over a small issue.
RELATED: 2026 NFL Draft Day 2: Winners, losers from Rounds 2 and 3
