The Eagles’ choice to jump the Steelers for Makai Lemon looked aggressive on draft night. Four weeks into the season, it looks a lot rougher.
Philadelphia grabbed Lemon ahead of Pittsburgh, but the early returns have been uneven. The rookie wideout has opened his NFL career with 10 catches for 65 receiving yards and no touchdowns through four games. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ recent first-round pick, Max Iheanachor, has looked like a solid answer at right tackle, even if there have been some growing pains along the way.
That contrast matters even more now because the Eagles were hit with a major blow when Lane Johnson announced his retirement four weeks into the season. It was a stunning development for a player of his stature, and it leaves Philadelphia in a tough spot up front. Rookie third-round pick Markel Bell is now expected to step into Johnson’s starting job.
That’s where the draft-night decision starts to sting. If the Eagles had let Pittsburgh take Lemon, they could have been in position to land Iheanachor themselves and potentially line up a long-term answer at right tackle. Instead, they’re asking Bell to handle a massive role while the offense around him is already under pressure.
For Pittsburgh, the fit is looking better by the week. The Steelers could have used a receiver with Lemon’s profile, but their need at right tackle made Iheanachor’s arrival especially valuable. Through two starts, he has already flashed real upside.
The numbers at receiver also underline the gap so far. During the same four-game stretch, Steelers wideout Roman Wilson has posted 14 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Philadelphia has long built its identity around strength on the offensive line, but that edge has faded this season. The interior is starting to come apart, Johnson is gone, and the right tackle spot is now unsettled. With the offense already struggling, the Eagles are learning quickly how thin the margin gets when the line isn’t holding up.
At this point, the better path may have been obvious: let Pittsburgh have Lemon and use the premium pick on an offensive tackle.
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For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
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Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
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Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]