For a while on Thursday night, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon believed he was going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.
In fact, Lemon was on the phone with the Steelers when the Philadelphia Eagles called him after trading up three spots with the Dallas Cowboys to let him know they were picking him.
“The Dallas Cowboys were on the clock at 20 with everyone knowing they were going defense,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport stated. “The Pittsburgh Steelers get on the phone with Makai Lemon, planning to select him next at 21. Except what they didn’t know is that 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.”
The move worked out great for the Eagles, who now have the perfect replacement in place for Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, who will presumably be traded after June 1.
The Steelers on the other hand seemingly panic picked Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanchor. Though a fine tackle prospect and a worthy first-round pick, especially with question marks concerning the health of 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones.
“[Jones] sustained a season-ending neck injury and had surgery soon after, and his timeline to return is still murky,” ESPN’s Brooke Pryor wrote. “Though the Steelers maintain he is on an expected timeline to return following the surgery, it remains unclear if he’ll be able to play by training camp or the start of the season as he works to regain his strength. Khan on Thursday night acknowledged there was some concern with Jones, but Iheanachor’s position flexibility made him the right pick regardless of Jones’ health.”
Some around the Steelers organization, however, believe the Iheanchor pick was simply because the team was scrambling after Philly sniped Lemon out from under them.
“You know when the clock runs out on you in a fantasy football draft, and it auto-picks a guy you don’t want — that’s what happened to the Steelers tonight,” one Steelers source told 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Filliponi.
If the Steelers truly wanted a WR, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., who were picked 24th overall by the Cleveland Browns and 30th overall by the New York Jets, respectively, were still on the board.
If Pittsburgh addresses WR on Day 2, there are still plenty of good options available including Denzel Boston, Zachariah Branch, Germie Bernard, Chris Brazell II, Malachi Fields, and Antonio Williams.
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