The Pittsburgh Steelers had their draft board sabotaged on Thursday night, and the Dallas Cowboys were the ones holding the detonator. It centered around a stunning trade involving USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, particularly for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were expected to select him. Unfortunately for the Steelers, that plan was upended by a single move from America’s Team.

The Cowboys had the 20th pick, which they received from the Green Bay Packers. But at the very last moment, they traded the pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 23rd pick and two fourth-round picks. The Eagles then drafted Lemon at 20, and the Steelers moved to OT Max Iheanachor at 21. While it was reported that the move angered the Steelers, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed that there was no intention of doing so with the Black and Gold.

Jones knows he may have made an enemy in Pittsburgh with one phone call, and he’s already trying to smooth things over.

“I don’t want to get on their bad side,” Jerry said. “I’m sorry if they’re mad. But, boy, I’ll tell you what, we’ve had it happen to us a bunch of times. It traded right out from under us. That’s why we (traded) those (fifth-round picks to move up to get Caleb Downs).”

Drafting Lemon could have been huge for the Steelers. Even though they have WR D.K. Metcalf and have added Michael Pittman Jr. this season, the depth chart remained relatively thin. It mostly consists of players with limited NFL experience, like Roman Wilson. With uncertainty surrounding quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ return and the team transitioning under new coach Mike McCarthy, adding a technically polished, immediate-starter like Lemon was a top priority to stabilize the passing game.

But for Jones, the move was purely business, as the trade was too beneficial for America’s Team to pass up. Earlier in the first round, the Cowboys had traded away two fifth-round picks to move up from No. 12 to No. 11 for Caleb Downs. Hence, the team was required to secure some draft capital in order to make further trades. Dallas received two fourth-round picks (Nos. 114 and 137) from Philadelphia in exchange for No. 20 and a 2027 seventh-rounder.

After last year, Jones’ main focus was to rebuild the secondary, which finished 30th in total defense, allowing an average of 377 yards per game. With the 23rd pick, the Cowboys drafted UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. Additionally, moving down also helped them get more draft capital. Using the two fourth-round picks, they picked CB Devin Moore and DT L.T. Overton. Moreover, Jones has also mentioned that last-minute trades are a common spectacle in the draft.

The Cowboys passed on WR Randy Moss for DE Greg Ellis in 1998. Although Dallas was on the clock at No. 8 and chose Ellis, it is widely cited as a moment where they “missed out” because they hesitated due to character concerns. The Minnesota Vikings eventually snagged Moss at No. 21, and he famously went on to haunt the Cowboys for years. But for the Steelers, the need for a proven wideout was real.

Despite the last-minute shake-up, they refused to let it derail their plans in Pittsburgh. After missing out on Lemon, they made sure history didn’t repeat itself. That’s why they traded up in the second round to select Alabama’s Germie Bernard and secure a high-end receiver prospect.

Omar Khan responds to Draft-day drama

Being the draft host means keeping emotions in check, and Omar Khan has done just that. Despite the apparent mishap, the Steelers GM is staying optimistic and avoiding the blame game. Khan believes these things are common in the draft, as a decision in the heat of the moment can change the trajectory.

“When the draft happens, there’s a lot of excitement that goes on,” Omar Khan told the media Saturday night, via Alan Saunders. “There was no ill intent when we made the call. As I mentioned, we have a good process, and you trust your board. The draft throws curveballs at you in every round, trust me. Things sort of take care of themselves.”

Surprisingly, while the media points fingers at the Cowboys, it is the Steelers who let the other franchises know their target. Although they were not on the clock, they called him. It was arguably one of the most notorious blunders in the draft. Former Eagles exec Jake Rosenberg broke his silence on Friday, suggesting the Steelers may have bent rules by communicating directly with Lemon at the same time the Eagles were trying to reach him.

NFL rules permit teams that aren’t on the clock to reach out to prospects, provided they don’t disrupt the active team’s communication. Hence, the Steelers could face NFL discipline. Lemon was still on the phone with the Steelers when his agent informed him he was going to Philadelphia. This heavy demand underscored just how popular he was after a 2025 season where he racked up 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns on 79 receptions.

While the NFL is likely to investigate the matter of why a franchise was on a call with a player before being called, many are also eagerly waiting to see how the pick shapes the future. Whether the Steelers dodged a bullet or let a star slip through their fingers will now become one of the most scrutinized storylines of the season.