Steelers See Eagles Swoop In, Steal Wide Receiver Target During NFL Draft
TL;DR
The Pittsburgh Steelers aimed to draft a wide receiver but ended up selecting offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles swooped in to take the Steelers' intended wide receiver target.
Key points
- Pittsburgh Steelers aimed for a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft
- Steelers selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st pick
- Philadelphia Eagles drafted the Steelers' intended wide receiver target
Southern California Trojans receiver Makai Lemon
Steelers See Eagles Swoop In, Steal Wide Receiver Target During NFL Draft originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for wide receiver help in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Steelers ended up selecting offensive tackle Max Iheanachor out of Arizona State with the 21st overall pick on Thursday night, but he wasn't their original target.
NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night that Pittsburgh was "on the phone" with USC wideout Makai Lemon while the Dallas Cowboys were on the clock with the 20th selection and "planning to select him."
"Except what they didn't know is the Eagles had actually traded up over them, were trying to get in touch with Lemon, but he wasn't answering because he was already on the phone with the Steelers," Rapoport said. "In the end, the Eagles do the trade, they get Makai Lemon and the Steelers grab a tackle right after."
"From the NFL Draft: A wild story, as the #Eagles trade up for Makai Lemon... while he was on the phone with the #Steelers," the insider posted on X.
Steelers insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic detailed the events as well.
"As one of the top three receivers on almost every board and the No. 13 player inĀ The AthleticĀ draft analyst Dane Bruglerās rankings, Lemon has long been on the Steelersā radar. He was one of just six players with a first-round grade to take a pre-draft visit to Pittsburgh, signaling interest from an organization that planned to select a receiver early in the draft.Ā For a moment, it seemed Lemon would walk out onto the stage alongside Jerome Bettis to be greeted by hundreds of thousands of Terrible Towel twirlers. Then, another call came in to Lemon," DeFabo wrote. "'First I answered the phone, and it was the Steelers,' Lemon told Eagles reporters on a conference call. 'Then my phone kept ringing. I look and itās the Eagles.'"
More NFL: Steelers NFL Draft Picks 2026: Full List of Selections From Rounds 1-7
Q&A
Which wide receiver did the Eagles draft that the Steelers wanted?
The article does not specify the name of the wide receiver drafted by the Eagles that the Steelers were targeting.
What position did the Steelers draft with their 21st overall pick in 2026?
The Steelers selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor out of Arizona State with their 21st overall pick.
Why were the Steelers looking for wide receiver help in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Steelers have been seeking wide receiver assistance to strengthen their roster ahead of the upcoming season.
