$91m WR on trade block as Steelers suffer embarrassing draft gaffe before mass walkout of fans

Pittsburgh Steelers fans smashed the attendance record for the first round of the NFL Draft.

A crowd of 320,000 packed in to see their team’s selection and ended up with front row seats to a Howie Roseman masterclass.

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The Philadelphia Eagles general manager managed to trade with a divisional rival to jump up and take a player who was on the phone with another team at the time in a moment that will be replayed for decades.

After the Carolina Panthers picked offensive tackle Monroe Fielding at No. 19, the Steelers were in dreamland.

Standout USC receiver Makai Lemon, who had just a four percent chance of making it to the 20th selection per ESPN Analytics, was still on the board.

Better still, only the Dallas Cowboys — with major needs on defense — stood in the way of adding a major need at a huge value.

Pittsburgh’s front office picked up the phone and called Lemon, only to see the Eagles send Nos. 114 and 137 to their bitter rivals to jump up three spots.

Roseman tried to speak to the wideout and couldn’t get through as he was speaking to the Steelers.

He eventually got Lemon and the Steelers were left with a bitter taste in their mouths.

GM Omar Khan pivoted and filled another position of need with O-lineman Max Iheanachor but Aaron Rodgers, who struggled to get first-round WRs in Green Bay, may be gutted to miss out as he contemplates returning to the Steel City.

As happens most years, fans flooded for the exits after watching their hometown team’s selection, with some no doubt reeling.

“I feel like everything happened for a reason,” Lemon said after admitting that he was on the phone with Pittsburgh. “They traded up so it means a lot that they really wanted me. I’m all-in and they’re going to get everything that I’ve got.”

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The Eagles are delighted with their work.

“We kind of had a really good sense of who we thought the first 15 guys would be [off the board],” Roseman said. “One of those guys did not go in the first 15 and he was available to us. When we saw that, it was just trying to figure out where we can move up.”

Lemon had 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season to earn All-America honors.

His four 150-plus receiving yard games are the most by a Trojan since games Drake London in 2021.

Largely used out of the slot, he earned the Biletnikoff Award as the top SEC wideout — USC’s second winner after Marqise Lee in 2012 — and has a similar ability after the catch to A.J. Brown.

Head coach Nick Sirianni added: “His ability to separate, insane ability to catch the ball in contested situations. I love his toughness.

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“Insanely competitive, so there’s a lot to like. Really excited that he’s added to our roster.”

The Eagles signed free agent wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore, as well as trading for Dontayvion Wicks.

A.J. Brown heading for trade

Now that they have also drafted a pass-catcher, it appears that Brown’s days in green are over.

The dominant athlete has earned $91 million over his career and remains one of the NFL‘s elite threats.

But he grew frustrated last season and a change of scenery could suit both parties.

The Eagles can spread a $40 million salary cap hit over two seasons by waiting until June 1 to trade him, with the New England Patriots believed to have firm interest.

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