The Pittsburgh Steelers' first night of the 2026 NFL Draft created a bit of drama. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan was speaking with wide receiver Makai Lemon, telling him he was going to be a Steeler. That moment quickly turned awkward when Lemon asked why Philadelphia was calling him at the same time.
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Makai Lemon holds up his Eagles jersey after getting drafted by them in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That call was coming from Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman, who was informing Lemon that the Eagles had traded up to draft him. With their target suddenly off the board, Pittsburgh had to pivot fast and move to their backup plan, selecting Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor instead.
It was an odd moment, and many felt like the Steelers were embarrassed in their home city during the first round. The situation may not be over yet. NFL insider Mike Florio revealed via Pro Football Talk that the National Football League told him they plan to review the incident after the draft concludes, raising questions about whether any rules were bent during the chaotic sequence.
"On Friday night, Eagles first-round receiver Makai Lemon was ringing the bell at the Celtics-76ers playoff game," Florio said. "The night before, he was on the horn with the Steelers, who were planning to take him with the 21st pick in the draft. Unbeknownst to Pittsburgh, the Eagles had jumped up to pick No. 20. And Philly wasn’t able to get through to Lemon, since he was talking to the Steelers. Former Eagles exec Jake Rosenberg noted on Friday that the Steelers may have run afoul of the rules by talking directly to Lemon at a time when the Eagles were attempting to reach him. On Friday, we asked the league about the rule regarding calling prospects when another team is on the clock. Here’s the response we received earlier today: 'The league reviews all aspects of the Draft the week after its conclusion.' Obviously, the Steelers’ call to Lemon will fall within the scope of that review."
It doesn’t sound like Florio is expecting the National Football League to hand down any punishments to either the Eagles or the Steelers. In this situation, it appears the Steelers would be the team potentially at fault if any violation did occur.
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Former Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor.
Florio doesn’t believe any discipline is coming, but it’s still worth noting that the NFL plans to review the situation after the draft concludes. It’s something for Steeler Nation to keep an eye on.
"It seemed to be an innocent mistake, and the Eagles likely would have picked Lemon in that spot even if they couldn’t have made the perfunctory phone call before doing so," Florio said. "Besides, the embarrassment of having it known that tackle Max Iheanachor was Plan B is arguably punishment enough."
Even if nothing ultimately comes from the review, the situation still highlights how chaotic and high-pressure draft night can be for front offices across the league.
Steelers' Focus Shifts Back To The New Players Drafted
For the Steelers, it serves as a reminder of how quickly plans can change and how important it is to stay disciplined in communication during critical moments. The focus will now shift back to the players they did select and how this class develops moving forward. Still, until the NFL officially closes the book on the matter, this will remain a storyline worth monitoring closely in the coming days.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan signs pictures for the fans as the team prepares to work out during a training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
While Khan and Mike McCarthy will likely continue to have this moment talked about, the rest of the Steelers 2026 NFL Draft has been exciting, and now the focus can shift back to that.
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