How an initial 2026 NFL Draft embarrassment actually ended up benefitting the Steelers

So far, Pittsburgh has benefited from what transpired back in April. Omar Khan's fourth NFL Draft as the Pittsburgh Steelers' general manager could not have started worse, or at least that's how it initially looked after Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman swooped in and snatched the player Khan and the Steelers were about to select with the 20th overall pick. Adding insult to injury was the fact that the entire process was recorded and immediately dispersed into the universe. In a matter of minutes, seemingly everyone had seen Makai Lemon chatting on the phone with Khan before Pittsburgh was leapfrogged by Philadelphia, who drafted Lemon after they pulled off a trade with, of all teams, the Dallas Cowboys, their longtime division rival.

The move was viewed as another example of Roseman's excellence at his job. Conversely, it was seen as a complete embarrassment in Pittsburgh. Inside the Eagles draft room as they’re trying to Makai Lemon on the phone 👀🎥: Eagles/YouTube pic.twitter.com/E484AsWiKA #Steelers GM Omar Khan on calling WR Makai Lemon and then getting jumped by the #Eagles:“When the draft happens, there’s a lot of excitement that goes on. There was no ill intent. We made the call… The draft throws curveballs at you in every round, trust me. It happens… https://t.co/qyTNOuoRuo pic.twitter.com/qKIKuEGS6X That sequence of events looks much different