Steelers Explored Trade With Bucs To Take Makai Lemon At No. 15
While the Steelers did not call the Cowboys about trading up for Makai Lemon during last month’s draft, they did explore a move to the Buccaneers’ No. 15 pick to land the USC wide receiver, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show).
Tampa Bay, though, did not expect Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to be available midway through the first round, and they quickly pounced on one of their top-ranked defenders. Pittsburgh looked at the five teams ahead of them at No. 21 – the Jets, Lions, Vikings, Panthers, and Cowboys – and assessed that none would take a wide receiver. They were correct; however, they did not anticipate getting jumped by Philadelphia, who traded up for Dallas’ pick and selected Lemon.
In what may be remembered as an infamous draft night moment, the Steelers were on the phone with Lemon informing him that he would be the 21st pick – while the Cowboys were still on the clock – when the Eagles made their move. General manager Howie Roseman called Lemon, who awkwardly hung up with the Steelers and got the news that he would be headed to Philly instead.
The Steelers pivoted to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound physical specimen who will fill a key need in Pittsburgh right away. If he proves to be a high-level starter, then missing out on Lemon may have been a blessing in disguise, as reliable offensive tackles are much harder to find than productive wide receivers. Trading up with the Buccaneers likely would have cost the Steelers their third-round pick, too, which they ended up using on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Pittsburgh was also willing to trade up for safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate, Dulac added, though both were selected long before they were in the Steelers’ range. Tate went surprisingly early to the Titans at No. 4, while the Cowboys moved up one pick to snag Downs at No. 11. An aggressive move up for Downs would have required Pittsburgh’s second-round pick, which they used to grab one of their other preferred wideouts, Alabama’s Germie Bernard.
Steelers Did Not Call Cowboys About No. 20 Pick
The Steelers got caught flat-footed during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The team was expecting to land Makai Lemon with the 21st overall pick and even had the USC wideout on the phone to inform him of its decision.
There was just one problem: they were not on the clock. The Cowboys were, and they completed a trade with the division rival Eagles, who moved up to the No. 20 pick to steal Lemon out from under Pittsburgh. The Steelers pivoted to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, but it was abundantly clear they were outmaneuvered by Philadelphia’s general manager, Howie Roseman.
Instead of prematurely calling Lemon – rumored to be a common Steelers draft tactic – perhaps general manager Omar Khan should have dialed the Cowboys’ number. He made no attempt to move up one spot to snag their desired prospect, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and could only watch – or more accurately, listen – as Lemon hung up to take the call from Philadelphia and become an Eagle.
However, the Steelers may not have been able to beat the Eagles’ offer. Philly sent a pair of fourth-rounders to Dallas to move up from the No. 23 pick, where the Cowboys were confident they could still land UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. In that case, Pittsburgh may have needed to match or exceed Philly’s package of picks, a sizable overpay to move up one spot.
Still, offering an alternative to trading with a division rival would have at least gotten the Cowboys’ attention. Lawrence was known to have other first-round interest, too, so Dallas may have preferred to move back one spot rather than three to ensure they got their man. Combined, those factors could have helped a weaker offer from Pittsburgh still beat their in-state rivals.
Lemon was not linked to the Cowboys during the pre-draft process, so the Steelers understandably were not worried about him going to Dallas. But opting to reach out to him rather than Jerry Jones may turn out to be a decision Khan regrets. It will be very interesting to watch how the careers of Lemon and Iheanachor play out.
Steelers Rumors: Metcalf, Jones, Draft
As the Steelers fought down the final stretch of the season last year in a race for the AFC North, an altercation from the team’s trip to Detroit forced them to finish the regular season without leading wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. In the first half a game against the Lions, Metcalf was caught on video grabbing then releasing the shirt of a fan in the stands in an aggressive manner. According to Christian Romo of the Detroit Free Press, Metcalf will avoid any charges as a result of the incident.
No flags were thrown when the incident occurred, and the Steelers never took action to discipline Metcalf, but the veteran receiver lost an appeal of his two-game suspension. He reportedly had a history with the fan, having reported them to security the year before, when he had visited as a Seahawk. Per Romo, the Detroit prosecutor’s office relayed that “police submitted a warrant request…but didn’t confirm who the warrant was for,” adding that “no charges were filed at the onset of the investigation,” and none will be levied against Metcalf following the conclusion of the investigation.
Here are a couple other rumors coming out of the Steel City:
- The Steelers declined the fifth-year option for offensive tackle Broderick Jones at the turn of the month, and while it seemed like a likely outcome based on his struggles over the first three years of his career, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor suggested that the outcome may have been different had Jones not gotten injured at the end of the 2025 season. Jones had to undergo neck surgery after missing the final six games of the regular season, and Pryor claims Pittsburgh “would’ve been much more likely” to pick up Jones’ option had the neck injury not complicated the team’s decision.
- During the 2026 NFL Draft, the broadcast showed a moment of levity as the Steelers reportedly called USC wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon before they were on the clock just for the Eagles to trade up one spot past them and draft the receiver right in front of them. According to Jake Rosenberg, a former Eagles front office executive, Pittsburgh’s actions may have violated a rule that restricts teams from talking to prospects or their representatives while not “on the clock” if it interferes “with the discussions between a player and the club that is ‘on the clock.'” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reached out to the league about the rule and received a response that the NFL “reviews all aspects of the Draft the week after its conclusion.” It seemed, though, as if the incident were an innocent mistake, that is until Mike Sando of The Athletic reported yesterday that some team executives have “suggested this is not the first time Pittsburgh has called a prospect early.” There appears to be suspicion the practice could be a strategy for learning who a team is drafting when the Steelers are told they must hang up in order for the team “on the clock” to be able to reach the prospect. It will be interesting to see if the league’s review of events concludes that the Steelers operated outside the rules.
Rams Viewed Cardinals As Ty Simpson Threat; Lions Offered L.A. First-Round Trade
Coming out of the first round with the most surprising selection, the Rams have established a Packers-like runway for Ty Simpson to develop behind Matthew Stafford. While holding the Falcons’ first-round pick (No. 13 overall) gave the Rams rare draft real estate, most were still borderline shocked to see Simpson go as high as he did.
Los Angeles has been high on the Alabama product since the 2025 season, and GM Les Snead has known Simpson’s father for much longer. Sean McVay‘s attitude in his post-first-rounder presser created buzz the head coach was not on the same page as his GM, but he has gone to great lengths to indicate that is not the case. McVay and Snead were believed to be in lockstep on Simpson, as should be expected given the HC’s accomplishments and influence in the organization.
[RELATED: Grade Rams’ Simpson’ Selection]
The Rams did consider other players at 13, and The Athletic’s Nate Atkins notes the team received a trade offer from the Lions. The return, however, did not excite the Rams, who stayed at 13 and chose Simpson. The Lions held the No. 17 overall pick. We had heard the Rams fielded calls from teams interested in outflanking the Ravens for Vega Ioane, but the Lions had been closely linked to filling their post-Taylor Decker tackle need.
The Lions could have been targeting Ioane as an option to replace Christian Mahogany at left guard, but they ended up with Clemson’s Blake Miller at 17. Detroit had seen three tackles — Spencer Fano, Francis Mauigoa and Kadyn Proctor — go off the board from Nos. 9-12, and we heard shortly before the draft a run on O-linemen was expected midway through the first round. That ended up taking place, as nine blockers went off the board between Nos. 9 and 28.
Detroit could have been eyeing a move up the board to grab Miller, but no tackles were selected from Nos. 13-16. That gave the Lions Miller, whom the team is expected (per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard) to play right tackle opposite Penei Sewell.
As for the Rams, Atkins views the team as deeming the Cardinals a threat for Simpson. The Cardinals were closely tied to Simpson during the pre-draft process and entered Round 1 as the odds-on favorite, per Vegas, to leave Pittsburgh with the QB rostered. The Rams thought the Cardinals had “heavy interest” in Simpson.
While Arizona chose Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 and did not have another pick until No. 34, we heard buzz about the team potentially eyeing him via a trade back into Round 1. We saw the Giants execute that route to nab a quarterback in 2025, taking Abdul Carter at No. 3 and using their No. 34 pick to climb back into the first round for Jaxson Dart.
While the Rams could have potentially traded down and added assets to grab Simpson — who had been part of a clandestine research project, with secret meetings between McVay and the QB commencing — they did not want to take that chance. Thus, Simpson will be tied to a larger-than-expected rookie contract due to going off the board at 13.
Even if the Rams had re-signed two-year backup Jimmy Garoppolo, Atkins adds the team would still have prioritized Simpson as a QB stash in Round 1. The team has still not ruled out Garoppolo backing up Stafford this year, but the 34-year-old passer is considering retirement. Garoppolo engaged in talks with the Cardinals to follow ex-Rams OC Mike LaFleur to Arizona, but the discussions hit a snag and led to the team signing Gardner Minshew. he and Jacoby Brissett — the latter a potential trade candidate — now serve as bridge options in front of third-round pick Carson Beck.
Had the Rams not ended up with Simpson at 13, Atkins pegs the team as choosing a skill player and offers more connections to Makai Lemon and Kenyon Sadiq. The former lasted to No. 20, when the Eagles traded in front of an eager Steelers team, and the latter went 16th overall to the Jets. The Rams made Ohio State tight end Max Klare their second pick in this draft.
Adding Simpson now gives the Rams flexibility with their 2027 picks, with Atkins adding that factored into the decision to take him at 13. The 2027 draft has drawn immense intrigue a year out, with teams holding onto ’27 first-round picks thus far. Two 2027 first-round choices have been traded, but both were unloaded (by the Colts and Cowboys) in 2025. No team parted with a 2027 first-round pick during this draft.
The Rams have both been an active trader of first-round picks (as their Trent McDuffie trade most recently showed) and a team that has found tremendous value via Day 2 and Day 3 selections during the Snead-McVay partnership. It is possible a 2027 first-rounder will carry more value, and the Rams will not need their ’27 first for a QB following their Simpson decision.
Eagles’ Makai Lemon Signs Rookie Deal
A week after the Eagles selected him 20th overall, first-round wide receiver Makai Lemon has signed his rookie contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Lemon is the first member of the 2026 class to put pen to paper. His fully guaranteed four-year deal is worth $20.81MM. It includes an $11.5MM signing bonus and a fifth-year option.
After starring at USC over the past couple of seasons, Lemon nearly began his NFL career in the area. The Rams considered Lemon at No. 13 overall, but they instead chose Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Steelers then looked poised to draft Lemon 21st, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman swooped in by trading up three spots for the wideout. Lemon got a call from the Eagles when he was on the phone with the Steelers, forcing them to pivot to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with their top selection.
The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon cemented himself as a first-rounder with a stellar performance in 2025. After Lemon hauled in 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games, the 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award (given to the best receiver in the nation).
The Lemon pick became the latest notable transaction at receiver this offseason for the Eagles, though it probably won’t be the last. Before landing Lemon, Roseman added to the team’s receiving corps in free agency (Marquise Brown, Elijah Moore) and the trade market (Dontayvion Wicks). Those four are now part of a group led by the high-end DeVonta Smith–A.J. Brown one-two punch, but the latter might not be in place much longer. A Brown trade has looked likely throughout the offseason, and expectations are that it will occur sometime after June 2.
If Brown ends up out the door before next season, it will increase the already strong odds of Lemon taking on a significant role as a rookie. He and the rest of the Eagles’ rookies will start minicamp on Friday.
Ty Simpson Fallout: Rams, McVay, Snead, Stafford, Lemon, Sadiq, Garoppolo, Ioane
While loosely connected to Ty Simpson entering the draft, the Rams were viewed as more likely to add a player that helped their strong 2026 roster compete for a Super Bowl title. In a move eerily similar to the Packers’ Jordan Love pick six years ago, the Rams came out of Round 1 with Simpson — who may well sit behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons.
Discussions about this pick pivoted from whether Simpson was a reach at No. 13 to whether Sean McVay was enthused about the selection. McVay’s post-draft presser left plenty to be desired on the latter front. For instance, McVay made this comment shortly after the choice:
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
[RELATED: Rams Considered Joe Flacco In Free Agency]
This situation technically makes Simpson the backup quarterback — McVay went as far as to say Simpson will compete with disappointing holdover Stetson Bennett for the gig — but the Rams paid Jimmy Garoppolo barely $3MM to handle that role over the past two years. Dynamics in play here certainly separate this from merely staffing the QB2 job. With the exception of the Packers’ three-year Love developmental plan, QBs chosen in Round 1 play as rookies or, at the latest, by Year 2. Stafford is going into an age-38 season and is expected to sign an extension soon.
The Packers did add Love ahead of a Rodgers MVP season, but Stafford coming off an MVP campaign and seeing his team draft his successor is uncovered ground. No team rostering a reigning MVP quarterback has chosen another passer in the first or second round since the 1970 merger. But that is Stafford’s reality now. While this situation differs from the clunky Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup, as Stafford is unlikely to be benched anytime soon, a clock is almost certainly in place on his Rams tenure — rather than a Super Bowl frontrunner augmenting his current roster.
Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix to go to L.A. at 13, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but this does not appear to have been a McVay-Les Snead power struggle. A personnel source informed Fowler that Simpson being there at 13 meant the Rams were taking him, going so far as to say the Alabama prospect compared favorably to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza by some in the team’s building.
McVay “absolutely” was onboard with the pick, another source told Fowler, with a separate team source indicating the duo was in lockstep by “all indications.”
“I think Sean had a chat with Matthew before last night. And that’s one thing that Matthew’s definitely earned,” Snead said, via The Sedano and Cap Morning Show (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) “It’s one of the things that we’re working together to go through it. Matthew is on his way to, I would say this, a Hall of Fame career, right? And he still has gas left in the tank. And big picture, our vision’s always been, ‘Hey, let’s make the most of this time with Matthew and his teammates — let’s chase special together, however long that may [last].’ There’s no timeline on this. The longer, the better. Matthew just came off an MVP season, so if he continues playing, it’s like, this is better for everyone involved.
“And I think at the end of the day, Sean and I are going to always work together in these types of decisions. … But there was a lot that was going on into maneuvering that draft. So, we’re in lockstep. We work together. We’re collaborative. It’s him and I partnering to try to do the best for the Rams.”
Snead played in the SEC (at Auburn) around the same time Simpson’s father (Jason) was at Mississippi State. Jason Simpson, the longtime HC at Tennessee-Martin, consulted with Snead on whether Ty should declare for the draft or stay in college. Snead said Ty was a first-round-level talent, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Simpson received $5MM and then $6.5MM offers from Miami to transfer there for the ’26 season, according to Pelissero. Snead had his eye on Simpson dating back to the fall, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
These discussions commenced before Alabama’s Rose Bowl game. Miami’s second offer would have compared to a second-round guarantee, but Simpson’s No. 13 overall pact will be worth $25.77MM fully guaranteed (per OverTheCap). When Ty’s parents discussed the QB’s future with Snead before his draft declaration, Pelissero indicates the longtime Rams GM conveyed a real possibility the Rams would draft him in the first round. (While the Rams’ draft slot was not known at that point, L.A. knew where its Atlanta-obtained pick would land since the Falcons’ season had ended.)
Simpson declared for the draft Jan. 7 — three days after the Falcons’ season wrapped — and the Rams carried a rare opportunity to find a Stafford heir apparent. The team’s draft slot regularly comes outside the top 20; it landed at No. 29 this year. The Rams traded their own pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and the draft community had viewed that swap as a decision that would likely send Simpson elsewhere. The Rams were viewed as high on Simpson but were considered more likely to draft him at 29 than at 13 (or via a trade-down from 13).
Even if this was a Snead-based pick, McVay has held tremendous input since arriving in L.A. nine years ago. A source familiar with the organization’s inner workings told FanSided’s Jason La Canfora that McVay “pulls all the triggers, and especially on a quarterback.” It would be highly unlikely a coach with McVay’s track record would be overruled by his GM, leading some in the league to view McVay’s lack of post-draft enthrallment for the pick as performative for Stafford’s benefit.
McVay indeed called Stafford on Thursday, per Jones. This differed from the Falcons’ approach, as they famously did not call Cousins before the Penix pick. Stafford is on a different QB tier than Cousins, and while it will be interesting to hear the veteran passer’s thoughts on the move, Simpson will be expected to sit for a while. The move also came partially due to Garoppolo uncertainty, per Fowler, though that assuredly played a small part in this. Garoppolo, whom the Rams had wanted back, is considering retirement.
McVay said (via Jones) he does not believe this pick will affect Stafford extension talks. The Rams have reached revised deals with their five-year starter in each of the past two offseasons, but with the QB unsigned for 2027, a true extension is on the docket this year.
Stafford pursued a $50MM-plus-AAV deal last year, being allowed to explore a trade, but backed down — after aggressive Raiders and Giants pushes — and signed a reworked Rams pact that brought a $40MM early guarantee. Simpson’s status aside, Stafford will still carry considerable leverage in Rams talks. Though, it is worth wondering if Simpson’s arrival will affect how much in future guarantees the Rams will want to offer.
Tied closely to the Rams coming into the draft, Lemon fell to 20th (via an Eagles trade-up in front of the Steelers). The Rams also considered tight end Kenyon Sadiq, per Fowler, who adds Caleb Downs — had he fallen to 13 — was on the team’s radar. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it landed Downs at No. 11. The Rams have pursued a young weapon in each of the previous two first rounds. They sought Brock Bowers in 2024 and made an offer for No. 8 overall — believed to be a Tetairoa McMillan aim — in 2025. They also were linked to Emeka Egbuka in last year’s first round.
That makes the Simpson-over-Lemon call interesting, but if the Rams are right on the passer (and they certainly have an optimal setup to develop one given McVay’s success), that will end up being the right play long term.
The Rams also received calls from teams eager to move ahead of the Ravens (at No. 14) for guard Vega Ioane, and while it would have made sense to explore sliding down and picking up assets, the team stood pat. That certainly furthers the belief McVay was firmly in Camp Simpson, despite the Crimson Tide signal-caller being a one-year college starter. Simpson, who was linked to the Cardinals and Jets (among other teams) in this draft, preferred to end up in L.A., Fowler adds.
Green Bay has seen its Love investment pay dividends, though its 2020 squad — despite a Rodgers MVP effort — fell just short of Super Bowl LV. The Packers have not been that close since, with a non-QB first-round pick potentially enough to make the difference in that Buccaneers matchup five Januarys ago. But the Packers have since extended Love, who has become an upper-crust QB. The Rams had not brought in a starter-level draft prospect under McVay, though the HC developed Snead draftee Jared Goff upon arrival.
The Simpson project will be scrutinized, but this will remain Stafford’s show for a while. The extension talks will be the next chapter to follow here, and it will be fascinating how long the Rams truly commit to their likely Hall of Fame-bound starter — and, perhaps, how long he now wants to commit to the team — now that they have his likely replacement rostered.
Eagles Obtain No. 20 From Cowboys, Draft WR Makai Lemon
An intra-divisional trade is upon us. The Cowboys have dealt No. 20 to the Eagles. In exchange, Dallas will collect Nos. 23, 114 and 137 from Philadelphia, which is adding a seventh-rounder in this trade (per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).
Dallas’ pick going to Philly is in the 2027 draft. The Eagles chose USC wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Lemon was one of the Eagles’ 15 highest-graded prospects, per The Athletic’s Zach Berman, who reports they did not expect him to slip beyond then. They swooped in before the NFL’s other Pennsylvania-based franchise, the Steelers, could grab him at No. 21. Lemon expected to go to Pittsburgh (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press)
“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time,” Lemon said. “I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly.”
The Eagles’ addition of Lemon will throw even more gasoline on the fire in regards to a potential A.J. Brown trade. Along with making a first-round investment in Lemon, the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. They also traded a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the Packers for Dontayvion Wicks, whom they immediately extended on a one-year, $12.5MM agreement. Moore is not a lock to carve out much of a role or even make the team, but Lemon, A.J. Brown, Wicks, Marquise Brown and DeVonta Smith make up a crowded, high-profile receiver room. There are now a lot of mouths to feed in Philadelphia.
For financial reasons, the Eagles are likely to wait until June 2 to trade A.J. Brown. New England is the probable landing spot, though the teams have not seen eye to eye on compensation yet. For now, general manager Howie Roseman continues to insist the three-time Pro Bowler is part of the Eagles’ plans.
“For us, A.J. is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman said (via Berman). “We don’t have any trades that have been made or that done. And I think for us, you know, we’re taking this one day at a time.”
Of course, it should be noted that the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon and Brown (6-1, 226) are much different players. Lemon lined up in the slot over 75% of the time at USC, whereas Brown operates on the outside.
After a quiet first college season in 2023, quarterback Caleb Williams‘ last with the Trojans, Lemon broke out the next year. Over 12 games as a sophomore, he hauled in 52 passes for 754 yards and three touchdowns. Lemon saved his best for last in 2025, capping off his Trojans tenure with 79 receptions, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in another dozen-game campaign. The 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best receiver in the nation. After dropping just four passes at USC, Lemon should give Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts a sure-handed target with star potential.
Rams High On WR Makai Lemon; Team Exploring Trade-Up Move
Nonfactors in the first round during much of Sean McVay‘s HC tenure, the Rams hold a Round 1 pick for the third straight year. The past two years featured heavy trade-up buzz. This one might veer in that direction as well.
The Rams are among the teams who have made calls about moving up the board, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Being amenable to trade-up or trade-down maneuvers is fairly standard practice, but the Rams’ recent history does make them a team to watch with regards to a climb up the board.
Los Angeles was closely linked to moving up for skill-position talent in 2024, discussing a vault from No. 19 to No. 8 (via the Falcons) — a move aimed at bringing Brock Bowers to Southern California. Atlanta passed and chose Michael Penix Jr., leading the Rams to stay put and select eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse. Last year, the Rams made an offer to move up — again for he No. 8 overall pick — but the Panthers passed. Carolina ended up taking L.A.’s targeted player (eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan) in that spot. This came a year after the Rams swung a second-round trade-up with the Panthers, with D-lineman Braden Fiske ticketed for L.A. via that transaction.
Emeka Egbuka also drew reported interest from the Rams last year, but after the Buccaneers chose the Ohio State wide receiver prospect 19th overall, Los Angeles moved out of Round 1 (via Atlanta’s James Pearce Jr.-based trade-up). That gives the Rams No. 13 overall this year; the team traded its own first-rounder (No. 29) to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie last month.
A year after pursuing a promising Big Ten slot receiver prospect, the Rams look to be eyeing another one. The team “loves” USC’s Makai Lemon, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Lemon-Rams connections have populated mock drafts, and with Jordyn Tyson making a late rise into likely a top-10 pick, Lemon may be this year’s third wide receiver off the board — behind Tyson and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. The latter two are not expected to be available at No. 13, but Lemon could be.
Dolphins-Lemon connections have emerged as well, with Fowler colleague Matt Miller indicating Miami has been viewed as high on the former Trojans target, but the ESPN draft expert would be surprised if the Dolphins went receiver at No. 11. The Rams are unlikely to need to move up the board much — if at all — if they want to take Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner after an 1,156-yard, 11-touchdown year. At 5-foot-11, Lemon would complement the Rams’ top-tier Puka Nacua–Davante Adams duo. Both are in contract years, and Adams is entering an age-33 season. Nacua is believed to be an extension priority, however.
Miller views it as less likely the Rams go for Ty Simpson, a rumored target, with their first-round pick. The Alabama quarterback would give the Rams a sought-after Matthew Stafford successor, and while the team’s No. 13 draft slot provides rare weaponry on the QB front, Miller views the Rams as prepared to use the pick to bolster their 2026 roster — which will assuredly be one of the Super Bowl LXI favorites. The Rams have also spent time on Simpson college target Germie Bernard, per Fowler. Slotted 49th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Bernard complemented likely 2027 first-rounder Ryan Williams at Alabama over the past two seasons.
An anonymous GM informed Fowler he believes the Rams could look to the edge rusher position early in the draft due to the rising costs at the position. L.A. OLB starters Verse and Byron Young are either extension-eligible (Young) or will be next year (Verse).
The Rams’ McDuffie trade included No. 29, along with fifth- and sixth-round picks this year and a 2027 third. However, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the team is not operating as if it will not carry a ’27 third. That could influence another trade-up. The Rams would collect two third-round picks — over consecutive drafts — if new OC Nate Scheelhaase becomes a head coach next year. The mixed-race assistant was a finalist for the Browns’ HC job this year, and considering the rate McVay staffers are hired for top jobs, it represents a safe bet Scheelhaase will be in contention for HC gigs on the 2027 carousel.
Steelers Hosted WR Makai Lemon
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon may be a long shot to make it to the Steelers in the first round, but they were among the teams he visited, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.
While the Steelers are heading into the draft with two proven starting receivers in D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., they have little else at the position. Of their six other receivers under contract, only Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek caught passes in 2025. They combined for a mere 16. The team has done its homework on a few notable prospects as a result, having hosted Lemon, Washington’s Denzel Boston and Alabama’s Germie Bernard. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. did not book a “30” visit with the Steelers, but they are reportedly interested in him.
While Bernard may be an option in Round 2, where Pittsburgh will be on the clock at 53, Lemon and Boston are expected to go in the first round. Cooper is not a first-round lock, but he will likely be gone before the Steelers make their second pick. The Steelers’ first choice will come at No. 21, which could be too far down the board for Lemon. Both Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 12) and Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 13) consider Lemon as a top-15 player in this class. PFR’s Ely Allen mocked Lemon to the Dolphins at No. 11.
The Steelers’ best hope of landing Lemon may be for general manager Omar Khan to trade up. That might be on the table for a team with a league-high 12 picks, including five in the top 99. Reeling in the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon, who won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2025, would give the Steelers an exciting complement to the 6-4 Metcalf-Pittman duo. He lined up in the slot over 75% of the time and dropped just four passes in his three-year, 33-game run at USC.
The Steelers are not guaranteed to emerge from the first round with a receiver, but it’s “almost a foregone conclusion” they will at least spend a Day 2 pick on the position, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette observes. Cornerback, safety and guard are other areas they could address in the opening round, according to Dulac.
Titans, Giants In Play For Carnell Tate; Saints Viewed As WR’s Floor?
A host of wide receivers could go off the board in Round 1, but the order in which this will unfold appears foggy. However, the question as to who is this draft’s top option at the position looks to have been answered.
As our Ely Allen noted over the weekend, Carnell Tate has created some distance between himself and the field at receiver. Despite not being Ohio State’s go-to option — that is likely 2027 top-five pick Jeremiah Smith — Tate is viewed as the clear frontrunner to be the first wideout off the board. A top-five landing spot is in play for one of this draft’s high-profile Buckeyes, and falling out of the top 10 is highly unlikely.
The Titans and Giants are in play for Tate at Nos. 4 and 5, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who views the player as a top-10 lock. No. 9 may not be relevant to Tate’s draft destination, either, with ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid adding the Saints “would quickly add” him if he remains available at No. 8.
New Orleans has been linked to pursuing pass-catching help in this draft. The team would align Tate with former Ohio State wideout Chris Olave in this scenario, one that would require Jeremiyah Love and some of the Ohio State defenders — perhaps all three — going off the board before Tate to become reality. If a team is going to double down on a program at receiver, Ohio State is probably the one to pick. The Buckeyes have sent five receivers to the first round since 2022 (Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka) and developed 2019 third-rounder-turned-Washington WR1 Terry McLaurin.
Tennessee, New York and New Orleans each brought Tate in for a “30” visit, gathering intel on a player who caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns last season (the Browns, Chiefs and Commanders also met with him). Tate does not have a 1,000-yard college season on his resume, but his two years as a Buckeyes regular overlapped with Smith’s first two Columbus slates. Smith will be consistently linked to the top five of what looks like a more talent-rich 2027 draft. For now, Tate is the Ohio State prize on the offensive side. He joins Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs as Buckeyes products who could be top-10 choices next week.
The Saints traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks at last year’s deadline, with the deep threat unlikely to re-sign with New Orleans. Shaheed re-signed with Seattle. The Saints did not make a notable move at receiver in free agency, effectively clearing the runway here. It would stand to reason that Makai Lemon would be in play for New Orleans at No. 8 if Tate goes earlier, but Breer adds there does not appear to be a consensus on this class’ second-best receiver prospect.
Different teams see USC’s Lemon, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. as the second-best WR in this draft, per Breer (Ely covered Concepcion’s Prospect Profile on Sunday). We heard last week some teams even have Washington’s Denzel Boston as a top-two or top-three wideout in the class. This receiver crop, like a few in recent years, is also viewed as deep, potentially influencing teams to wait on the position and address other needs earlier.
The Titans did not end up cutting Calvin Ridley, but it is quite possible the 31-year-old target will not be on their 2027 roster. Tennessee also added Wan’Dale Robinson to reunite with Brian Daboll. Losing Robinson, the Giants gave Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin low-cost deals to play alongside Malik Nabers. But the team may lack a No. 2 target going into the draft.