The Official 2026 NFL Draft Thread (No Spoilers)

Bernard is probably more versatile, but the Steelers probably need to come away with one of them.

 

Yeah, Khan got schooled up by the Eagles GM.

 

Because of the uncertainty of Broderick's injury.

 

Elliott is coming off a significant injury, which has been a problem throughout his career. I'm not sure either of them is a guy you want at free safety.

 

He's not a reach at all considering he would've been gone by their round 2 pick. Drafting at #21 is kind of an awkward position. The best players are usually gone by then, you just hope to get lucky that one of the guys they really wanted drops to you, but such was not the case. Max isn't a total shock pick to me, I've seen him go to the Steelers at #21 in several mock drafts, and a couple of local notables had them picking Max as well. If only they had traded up 2 spots, they could've gotten Freeling or Lemon, who both fell further down than expected.

 

Lemon is almost the same size as Amon Ra St. Brown who he is often compared to and ran a faster forty time than Brown.

 

Supposedly, he would have been gone at 27, but that doesn't make him any less of a reach.

 

First day attendance record shattered 320 K fans showed up beating Detroit's record of 275 K two years ago.

 

Gotta hear how a player who your claiming has a floor of pick #27 is a reach 6 spots earlier?

Especially considering the only known trade down was out of the 27 spot...apparently where Max would have been picked?

You appear to be arguing in circles.

 

They have 11 picks I would be surprised if they don't draft a free safety.

 

Below Thienman I can see. I do not see very many outside of the top 30. Kind of feels like that claim doesn't hold up to examination.

 

I don't care if drafting at #21 is kind of an awkward position, no excuses, that is Khan's job, and he clearly wasn't paying attention because he was on the phone to Lemon. Once the Steelers were jumped by Philly, they lost draft capital because the teams knew they lost their target and could lowball trade down offers.

My issue is not the players targeted or picked, it was more the GM was asleep at the switch and left draft capital on the board.

 

And he was a 4th round pick. The mental gymnastics yall like to perform is amusing

 

The only time Khan should've been on the phone with Lemon was after he knew who pick #20 was. So I agree with you that it was stupid on Khan's part if that report is to be trusted.

 

Sigh. The more you know...

Apparently the Steelers have a multi-year practice of calling the pick prior to them being on the clock. This is not new. There seems to be discussion around the internet (not bothering to link to it on Redditt because it is unsourced) that this is a fairly common NFL practice....particularly as they continue to shorten the pick interval.

https://steelersdepot.com/2026/04/mike-mccarthy-addresses-makai-lemon-storyline/

Follow the link and you can watch video of the Steelers doing it with Harmon last year.

Facts not vibes fellas.

 

I heard some people say Khan should've been on the phone with Dallas to tell them if they get an offer we will beat it.

 

And 31 GMs blew it

 

NFL Network and Lemon himself confirmed that was the case. They were playing the whole audio of the two calls.

That was my main issue, Khan arrogantly wasted time and didn't consider a receiver hungry Roseman due to the Brown situation. That is fine to lose out on Lemon (could have traded up), it happens, but what was the plan once they got punched in the face?

It should have been to trade down, get more assets to help move up on day 2, but at that point, the other teams were going to lowball because Khan lost his target.

Max maybe a great player, more guys in the trenches are good, but just feel that was a blown opportunity and a bad look. If other teams perceive a GM isn't on his game in the draft, they are going to keep lowballing and testing what they can get away with.

 

He should be on the phone with all other GMs at all times. Instant counter-offers.

 

I hope they shorten the pick window more to
6 minutes
6 minutes
snoop doggy dog

 

The problem was vibes, because Khan didn't pay attention to the facts, notably the Eagles were two picks below, were hungry for a receiver with AJ Brown being shipped out, and have a stone, cold assassin in Roseman as an executive.

Should have been on the phone with Jerrah and not Lemon.

 

TBH the Broderick uncertainty is mostly irrelevant. Let's face it, the 5th year option decision is due this off-season. Is there any chance that the Steelers were going to excercise it? That makes this season his final under contract. The only impact his injury will have is that if he doesn't play then he doesn't have that one final chance to show the Steelers and the league that he's worth signing beyond a one year tryout type contract next season. If healthy it's possible that he could still come in, have an awesome TC, win the starting spot, and earn a long-term extension or contract in FA...but why would we expect that he has finally figured it out just now? The team should have been planning for him not to be here either way in 2027 and then it can only be a pleasant surprise if he earned that extension.