Steelers May Be Unwilling To Make Big Trade For 1 Possibly Elite Player In 2026 NFL Draft

The rumor mill has been working overtime lately, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers having loads of draft capital. With 12 picks in hand, numerous insiders and analysts are anticipating some form of trade-up in the first round so they don't have to use every single selection they have in the 2026 NFL Draft. On top of that, General Manager Omar Khan has been aggressive in his first few years running the team, so there is no reason to not expect some sort of big move made on Draft Day to benefit the team now and/or in the near future. 

While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, insider Ray Fittipaldo pushed back on the idea of the Steelers making a big trade, at least for a first-round wide receiver.

"In a receiver draft for this, where you can get a starting caliber player certainly through the second round -- maybe into the third round because we're talking about maybe the Steelers trying to get a slot guy -- I don't know if the Steelers would want to make that move," Fittipaldo said.

Fittipaldo was asked specifically about receiver Makai Lemon, whom the Steelers brought in for a Top 30 visit on Thursday, April 9th. This does indicate that there is a level of interest here from Pittsburgh, but his draft stock is all over the place of late. Some see him as a Top 10 prospect, while others believe he could fall somewhere near Pick No. 21. There are a ton of options, so it makes sense that the team is at least speaking with the prospect. 

Lemon is seen as a technically sound route runner. He would be competing with Roman Wilson to be the Day 1 starter if he gets selected by Pittsburgh, and he would likely win that spot by the middle of the season, if not in preseason. He may not be the best vocal leader, but Lemon would be a great role model for those around him, as well as players that get drafted in later years. 

Character concerns did arise during the 2026 Scouting Combine, as Lemon reportedly bombed numerous interviews and he went viral for his awkward press conference. However, that's just one little issue from a prolific college career that prompted little-to-no concerns from his coaches and teammates. If other teams in the NFL are truly concerned about that, the Steelers can take full advantage.

To Fittipaldo's point, however, a trade-up may be necessary. What the front office has to figure out is how much better Lemon is as opposed to a guy like Jordyn Tyson or Denzel Boston. If they don't see too much of a difference in potential and skill, the team can just stand pat and take whichever high-profile wideout falls into their lap. If Lemon does appear to be much better, than a big-time trade could be on the table, regardless of the rest of the talent in the draft at wideout.

Steelers Have To Deal With Insanely Unpredictable Draft

The first overall pick appears to be set in stone, but after that, there is very little certainty about which player will be selected by anyone else. The Steelers might be forced into going with Plan B or C to try and make a great choice in the first round. Lemon might be selected before Khan can start talking to teams about a potential trade-up to get him. If wideouts start flying off the board however, a deal might get done to move up.

What do you think about the Steelers likely not trading up for Lemon? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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