The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers might have a fresh chapter in their storied rivalry—and it all went down at the 2026 NFL Draft.
With USC wide receiver Makai Lemon—fresh off a Biletnikoff-winning season—still available as the first round neared the 20s, the Steelers were ready to call his name at No. 21. But then the Cowboys traded out of the 20th spot, allowing the Philadelphia Eagles to swoop in and grab Lemon while Pittsburgh had the receiver on the phone.
According to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Steelers were not happy. Harris reported on the “House of Haymaker” show that Pittsburgh was “pissed” about the move, feeling that Dallas duped them on a national stage—especially with the draft taking place in the Steel City.
But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn’t buying it. Speaking through Jon Machota of The Athletic, Jones and his son Stephen pushed back on the notion that they angered the Steelers. “That’s not right,” Stephen said. Jerry added, “Not at all. … I don’t want to get on their bad side. I’m sorry if they’re mad. But, boy, I’ll tell you what, we’ve had it happen to us a bunch of times. It [was] traded right out from under us.”
Jones also made a point to praise the Steelers organization and the Rooney family, making it clear there was no malice in the trade. For Dallas, it was just business—capitalizing on an opportunity to move a pick and let a division rival land a top talent.
Steelers GM Omar Khan addressed the situation over the weekend, downplaying any hard feelings. “When the draft happens, there’s a lot of excitement that goes on. There was no ill intent,” Khan told reporters. “We made the call … the draft throws curveballs at you in every round, trust me. It happens throughout the draft—some public, some not—and things just sort of take care of themselves.”
Khan’s measured response suggests the Steelers are trying to move on, even if the timing of the phone call was awkward. Lemon was reportedly on the line with Pittsburgh when the Eagles pick came in, creating an embarrassing moment for the team in front of its home crowd.
The draft drama adds another layer to the Cowboys-Steelers history, which includes two Super Bowl matchups and decades of mutual respect—and occasional tension. While this year’s incident might not reach those heights, it’s a reminder that even the most professional front offices can get caught up in the heat of the moment.
For fans looking for more draft fallout, check out Mel Kiper Jr.'s list of the 2026 draft's biggest losers and Mike Greenberg's push for a timeout rule to slow the draft's frantic pace.
As for Lemon, he’s now an Eagle, and the Cowboys have moved on. But the question lingers: Was this a simple case of draft-day opportunism, or did Dallas intentionally stick it to Pittsburgh? Jerry Jones says no, but the smoke hasn’t fully cleared.
