The NFL Draft is unpredictable, as no one knows what will happen once the clock is ticking. That proved to be the case on Thursday night, when USC wide receiver Makai Lemon was basically drafted by two different teams.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were ready to submit Lemon as their pick, even calling Lemon in the green room to let him know. Instead, though, the Philadelphia Eagles executed a trade-up with the Dallas Cowboys to ensure they got to pick the USC wide receiver in the first round.
That kind of drama is unique to the NFL Draft, and it was certainly a roller coaster for Lemon. In fact, NFL Network’s Good Morning Football got the video of the moment when Lemon discovered he was drafted by both Pennsylvania teams.
Take a look at Lemon’s reaction last night.
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Makai Lemon phone call video
The Steelers believed they were taking Makai Lemon with the No. 21 pick on Thursday night, to the point that they called Lemon to inform him of the pick. However, Pittsburgh’s plans were stymied when the Eagles traded up to No. 20 and stole Lemon right from under them.
A behind-the-scenes phone call shows Lemon in the green room at the exact moment he found out the Eagles were taking him. Lemon had already celebrated being taken by the Steelers, but then got an unexpected call from the Eagles.
“Hey, why is Philly calling?” Lemon asked.
“Philly just traded for you!” Lemon’s agent responded. “This is Philly, they just traded for you! Philly’s taking you right now!”
Here is the moment Makai Lemon thought he was getting drafted by #Steelers and realizing in real time that the #Eagles traded up, via @gmfb this morning.
He asked Omar Khan “Why is Philly calling [me]?” pic.twitter.com/AbXDJONYye
— Ross McCorkle (@Ross_McCorkle) April 24, 2026
Lemon explained his emotions while meeting with the media afterwards.
New Eagles WR Makai Lemon confirmed he was on the phone with the Pittsburgh Steelers first.
“First I answered the phone, and it was the Steelers. And then my phone kept ringing. I look, and it’s the Eagles. They traded up. And they were going to pick me. I feel like everything… pic.twitter.com/OVbcRADMUV
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) April 24, 2026
While Pittsburgh and Philadelphia aren’t huge rivals, as they are in different conferences, there is still animosity because they are in the same state. This moment will only add to the Steelers-Eagles moments in NFL history.