The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the biggest mysteries heading into the 2026 Draft, as experts are having a hard time determining which direction the franchise will go in with the 21st-overall pick. Everyone is waiting to see if the Steelers will get an Aaron Rodgers decision before the draft festivities start, but the quarterback’s future is unlikely to affect Pittsburgh’s first-round strategy, because the team isn’t taking a QB in 2021.
The Steelers could, however, select a quarterback’s best friend: a wide receiver. One prospect who has emerged as an option for Pittsburgh is USC wideout Makai Lemon. Universally considered a top-three receiver in the 2026 class, Lemon would be a phenomenal addition in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the team may not be able to stay put at 21 and select him.
FanSided recently released its 2026 Draft Big Board, ranking the top 50 prospects, and draft analyst Mike Luciano ranked Lemon as the 10th-best prospect in the class. While prospects don’t typically hear their name called in the exact order of their ranking, the chances of a receiver, ranked in the top 10, making it to 21 are slim.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have to trade up if they want to draft FanSided’s 10th-ranked prospect Makai Lemon
Despite only being 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, Lemon has established himself as one of the top receivers in the class because of his toughness, hands that catch everything, and his refusal to go down once the ball is in his hands. Luciano highlighted all of those traits in his scouting report, explaining why the former Trojan is ranked 10th.
"Lemon is not going to win any 40-yard dashes, but he makes up for with electric route-running that made him the centerpiece of the USC offense last season. Lemon's contested catch skills for a receiver his size are truly exceptional, and the ability to get open despite lacking the same supersonic speed some other top prospects have, he has a very high floor. The concerns with Lemon involve some reported poor interviews at the NFL Combine and the fact he be limited to the slot in the NFL."Mike Luciano (FanSided)
Those are certainly skills the Steelers will welcome on their offense. Pittsburgh barely had wide receiver production outside of DK Metcalf in 2025, and that’s why the team went out and traded for Michael Pittman Jr. this offseason. The Steelers’ work shouldn’t be done, though. Adding a talent like Lemon would give the offense an exciting trio, which should result in a much more productive offense.
The question, though, is how high Pittsburgh would need to go up to get him, and if the trade would be worth it. That’s a question that could only be answered on draft night. If Lemon starts to slide into the teens, the Steelers could start working the phones and try to move up for him.
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