The Pittsburgh Steelers have no shortage of needs entering the offseason. While every fan wants nothing more than for head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan to find the next franchise quarterback, this feels unlikely in 2026, given the talent pool in free agency and the NFL Draft this year.
Building through the draft is essential for the Steelers to get back on track and eventually construct a contending roster... and the top dream scenario in the 2026 draft is already glaringly obvious—landing USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
The Steelers have a massive need at wide receiver—a position McCarthy will value heavily—and nothing will turn their fortunes around faster than striking gold on a true No. 1 option in the passing game. Lemon could be just what the doctor ordered.
Makai Lemon is the dream scenario for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some respectable wide receiver performances in recent years with guys who offered niche roles like George Pickens and DK Metcalf. But the last time the Steelers had a true go-to wide receiver who could operate efficiently when peppered with targets was Antonio Brown.
While Pittsburgh isn't likely to find a receiver of that magnitude for a long time, Lemon could be exactly what this team needs.
During his junior season at USC in 2025, Lemon exploded for a breakout campaign that included 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. The physical wideout consistently showed grit, strong hands, and run-after-the-catch ability on film.
For his 2025 efforts, Lemon earned a 90.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus with an outstanding 3.13 yards per route run. He also caught 66.7 percent of contested balls while recording a drop rate of just 2.5 percent. Lemon already shows nuance as a route-runner and the ability to manipulate coverages at just 21 years old.
Here's the problem: there's almost no chance Lemon falls to the 21st overall pick in the draft, where the Steelers are selecting.
Though his size (roughly 5'11'', and 195 pounds) and modest athletic traits could cause some teams to move him slightly down their boards, Lemon is simply an excellent football player who projects as a go-to target at the next level. Teams won't let him fall far on draft day.
Because of this, the Steelers would likely need to trade up into the top half of the first round to have a shot at taking the impressive wide receiver. Otherwise, they would need the stars to align for him to somehow slide to pick 21.
Not only would Lemon fill a major positional need, but he would likely be an upgrade over any receiving option this team has had since Antonio Brown. Lemon has the physicality and toughness working from both the slot and the outside that have caused many to compare him to former USC star Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Makai Lemon is a top-10 player in the 2026 draft class and comes at one of the most important positions in football. Finding a way to secure him in the NFL Draft would be the ultimate dream scenario for the Pittsburgh Steelers this April.