The city of Pittsburgh couldn’t have looked better during draft night Thursday.
Day 1. pic.twitter.com/k1OzHypVLb
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) April 24, 2026
But the Steelers’ front office couldn’t have looked worse. They got punked by the Philadelphia Eagles before making their draft choice at No. 21. The Steelers were on the phone with USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, ready to pick him.
That’s when the Eagles traded into the No. 20 slot and stole him while the cameras recorded the whole thing.
Here is the moment Makai Lemon thought he was getting drafted by #Steelers and realizing in real time that the #Eagles traded up, via @gmfb this morning.
He asked Omar Khan "Why is Philly calling [me]?" pic.twitter.com/AbXDJONYye
— Ross McCorkle (@Ross_McCorkle) April 24, 2026
In this week’s “Beyond the Bylines,” Joe Starkey and I talk about everything that happened — and didn’t happen — with the Steelers in the first round. We also get into the prospects of who the Steelers ultimately chose: Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. And we discuss the looming demise of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who could be swept by the Flyers on Saturday.