Possible Steelers WR Target Makai Lemon Responds to Draft Process Blowback

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Possible Steelers WR Target Makai Lemon Responds to Draft Process Blowback

NCAA Football: UCLA at Southern California — Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) celebrates with tight end Walker Lyons (85) after catching a 32-yard touchdown pass against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Brendan Howe · Steelers Now

Wed, Apr 22, 2026 ·

2 min read

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PITTSBURGH —Makai Lemon slept well on Tuesday night. About two months after dealing with criticism, the USC receiver is counting his blessings ahead of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, one in which he could be taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers .

Lemon's introduction to the masses at the NFL Scouting Combine in February went viral for the wrong reasons, as plenty poked fun at his mannerisms behind the podium. He doesn't allow others' opinions to get to him.

"My main takeaway is just really a learning experience, definitely," Lemon said after helping at a youth football camp at U.S. Steel Community Field in Hazelwood Green on Wednesday morning. "Just how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn't expect (for it) to look like that, but you know, I'll learn from it, definitely, and be better moving forward."

Reports surfaced shortly after the combine that Lemon was trying to tank his draft stock when meeting with teams.

"That's for them to talk about," Lemon said . "I ain't got nothing. I can't really tell them what to say and stuff like that. I know what I did as a person, as a player, and the teams know what's going on."

Lemon formally met with the Steelers in Indianapolis . He said he took conversations with every team he talked with seriously.

"Yeah, 100%," Lemon said.

Lemon made the trip to Pittsburgh earlier this month for a pre-draft visit with Mike McCarthy's Steelers, talking with them again in person.

"I definitely took a lot (away from it), definitely," Lemon said. "It was super genuine, just getting them to know me within those short 20 minutes, but it was definitely good."

Pittman also has a connection with the Steelers' newest receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., who he recently caught up with. Pittman played at USC from 2016-19 and spent the first six seasons of his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts .

This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Possible Steelers WR Target Makai Lemon Responds to Draft Process Blowback

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