Sensational Steelers Draft Target May Fall Into Pittsburgh's Lap

The Pittsburgh Steelers' busy 2026 offseason continued at the NFL Scouting Combine. With the team is looking to get back to a winning standard under new Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his staff in Pittsburgh, the franchise is looking to improve its roster ahead quickly. With the 2026 NFL Draft a little under two months away, the Steelers have been linked to many wide receiver prospects. Makai Lemon from the University of Southern California may end up with the Black and Gold. With him projected to go before 21, Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks he could fall into the Steelers' lap.

Teams like the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens have been mentioned as possible landing spots for Lemon in the first round. However, Batko spoke of Lemon on The North Shore Drive podcast on Saturday and indicated that the wideout could end up falling in the draft.

This would leave Pittsburgh with its first answer to improve the wide receiver position. While more needs to be added, especially to help get DK Metcalf back to being his explosive self, Lemon falling to the Steelers would be a great start.

"You look at the Steelers and, you know, they took a chance on a smaller guy — albeit not in the first round — in the third round in Roman Wilson," Batko said. "[The team] kind of thought that he could project from college to the pros, even though he was, you know, mainly in the slot at Michigan and really thrived on separation, but it hasn't worked for him yet at the NFL level. So, you wonder if there's a little bit of, you know, question mark there with Lemon, but maybe that'll work out in the Steelers' favor. He'll fall to them. They'll pick him and he'll be the next Hines Ward rather than the next Roman Wilson."

The aforementioned Metcalf led the team in yards amongst wide receivers in 2025 and it was not particularly close. The next-closest wide receiver behind Metcalf in yards was Calvin Austin III with 372. Lemon also spoke recently at the combine and gave glowing praise to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who the Steelers are awaiting a decision from about a potential return to the team in 2026.

Lemon progressed well throughout his college career with the Trojans. In his sophomore season, he really put himself on the map with 764 yards to go along with three touchdowns. In 2025, during his junior year, Lemon took off as he had 1,156 yards to go along with 11 touchdowns. The touchdown total was tied for ninth-most in the NCAA and he also had 14.6 yards per catch. 

Steelers Need Playmakers To Help Transcend The Offense

While Lemon is listed at just under 6'0", the Steelers need playmakers to help modernize their offense in 2026. He may not be as tall as what teams want in a wide receiver, but his yards per catch numbers are impressive and showcase the playmaking ability he has. 

That's exactly what the Steelers' offense needs to be an improved unit in 2026: playmakers. Pittsburgh's offense ranked 25th in the NFL in total offense in 2025, with 305.6 yards per game. Their passing offense was also towards the bottom at 22nd, while their scoring offense was in the middle of the pack at 15th.

While Metcalf showed flashes at times for the team in 2025, many feel that he had an underwhelming first year with the Black and Gold, especially by Metcalf's standards. This is the perfect chance to get some young college prospects that will help out Metcalf by forcing opposing teams to focus on more than one big-play threat in 2026 and beyond. 

The Steelers also have three third-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft; so, they can start off round one by addressing the need at wide receiver and also come back to find a potentially valuable third-round pick at the position as well. The Steelers need to transcend their offense in 2026 and it starts by adding playmakers to the roster.