The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Michael Pittman Jr. at the start of the 2026 free agency period, but that doesn't mean their pursuit of a top-notch wide receiver will end here. The combination of Pittman and DK Metcalf helps, but Mike McCarthy still needs a true go-to option in his West Coast offense.
With a pair of 6'4'' receivers on the outside, the Steelers could use a dynamic slot receiver with toughness over the middle of the field and the ability to break tackles and chew up yards after the catch. Since early in the offseason, USC's Makai Lemon felt like an ideal fit, but landing him in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft felt like nothing short of a dream.
But after his USC Pro Day, perhaps there's hope that Lemon could fall within striking distance of Pittsburgh.
Lemon opted out of athletic testing at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, which raised a few concerns with draft analysts. On Thursday, Lemon took to the field for his USC Pro Day, and fans weren't impressed with his 40-yard dash time.
The Athletic's NFL expert, Dane Brugler, had Lemon's hand time somewhere between 4.48 and 4.53. Others settled on a 4.52 40-yard dash for Lemon at his Pro Day.
Makai Lemon could slip far enough in the 2026 NFL Draft Pittsburgh Steelers to make a move for him
An approximate 4.52 40-yard dash isn't concerning, by any means. We knew that Lemon wasn't a burner—that's just not his game. But it's a collection of factors that could cause him to slide in the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In addition to proving that he had only adequate top-end speed, Lemon has an undersized compact frame. At 5' 11 1/8'' and 192 pounds, Lemon possesses just 26th percentile height and 28th percentile weight among NFL receivers since 1999, according to Mockdraftable's database. Additionally, Lemon's 8 7/8'' hands (9th percentile) and 30 1/2'' (16th percentile) are considered small for a wideout.
There were also rumors that some were concerned about Lemon's NFL Combine interviews, though there are no concrete knocks against his character from credible sources.
The collection of these factors won't make a player as talented as Lemon slip to pick No. 21 in the NFL Draft, but it could cause him to fall just enough so that the Steelers could trade up for him.
In addition to holding the 21st overall pick, the Steelers have a second-rounder (pick No. 53) and three third-round picks this year. This is more than enough ammunition to move up a handful of spots for a player they love. Perhaps Lemon is that guy.
If Lemon slips to the middle of the first round, the Steelers could leapfrog a team like the Jets (pick No. 16) to land Lemon. Jumping from No. 21 to No. 15 and trading with the Buccaneers would likely cost them one of their third-round picks.
Early in the pre-draft process, Lemon almost felt like a lock top-12 pick. Maybe an underwhelming 40-yard dash time at his USC Pro Day was just what the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to get the talented receiver to fall within striking distance in the NFL Draft.