The Pittsburgh Steelers are ushering in a new era with Mike McCarthy as head coach, and finding a true No. 1 option in the receiving game is a must. Though general manager Omar Khan traded for DK Metcalf last offseason and Michael Pittman Jr. at the start of free agency, the team still needs a receiver who can get open routinely and work the middle of the field.
Makai Lemon would be a perfect option. Lemon's best role is expected to come as a slot receiver at the next level, and his skill set would have been an ideal pairing with the 6'4'' Metcalf and Pittman on the outside. Despite his 5'11', 192-pound frame, Lemon has outstanding toughness and the ability to chew up yards after the catch.
Unfortunately, the Makai Lemon-to-the-Steelers dream could be over after the latest odds.
According to Underdog's new availability odds—which is made up of over 1,200 mock draft submissions from the last seven days—there is just a four percent chance that Lemon is still available at pick No. 21 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It's not surprising to see Lemon off the board early in mock drafts, but these odds mean that Steelers fans must face the reality that the USC star won't be on the board when Pittsburgh is on the clock in Round 1.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won't get USC WR Makai Lemon without a Round 1 trade-up
These availability odds from Underdog confirm what we had already feared since early in the pre-draft process—that Lemon wouldn't be an option for the Pittsburgh Steelers when it's all said and done. This is unfortunate, considering his skill set and what he could potentially offer the team as a No. 1 target in the passing game.
While hope is lost for landing Lemon organically in Round 1, the Steelers may still have a chance at snagging the impressive receiver with an aggressive trade-up.
By the time the Dallas Cowboys are on the clock with the No. 12 pick in the first round, Underdog has only a 50 percent chance of Lemon still being on the board. Pittsburgh potentially trading with Dallas for this selection has been frequently discussed by NFL Draft media this offseason, given the Steelers have 12 draft picks (four on Day 2) and the Cowboys have just one late third-round pick on Day 2.
Here's the issue: Lemon's chances of being on the board when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the clock at pick No. 16 are just 16 percent. This is because the talented receiver would need to find a way to slip past both the Los Angeles Rams and the Baltimore Ravens at pick No. 13 and No. 14, respectively.
Realistically, if the Steelers wait this long to trade up for a receiver, it's probably already too late to land Lemon.
At the end of the day, Makai Lemon no longer feels like an option for the Pittsburgh Steelers to land in the 2026 draft, barring a massive trade-up move. Omar Khan needs to have a backup plan in place if and when the Lemon dream falls through.