NFL Draft Twist: Steelers, Cowboys Trade for Top Talent

On April 29, in the 2026 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers thought they had USC wide receiver

Mackay Lemon locked in at the moon.

21st pick, with GM Omar Khan already on the phone.

But Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a trade, swapping picks to let Philly

jump to 20th overall, and snag Lemon right before, Pittsburgh's turn.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II shut down any bad blood talk on a local radio show this week.

He said it's just draft life when someone jumps ahead for your guy, so they rolled with

their next target, Arizona State Tackle, Max Ihana Korat, 21.

That's the third first-round mime-man they've grabbed in four years, and his clean, past-blocking

sheet fits their scheme perfectly.

Fans and media lit up over the Cowboys helping arrival, Barunni stayed cool, pointing to

Pittsburgh's own history of trading up like, for Brodrick.

Jones in 2023, and Ryan Shazier in 2014, right ahead of Dallas at 16.

Meanwhile, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones owned the move, apologizing if it stung, but calling

it straight business to land Ohio State's safety Caleb Downs.

Later, he even praised the Rooney family and New Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, his old

guy, easing any real tension.

In the end, these trades show the NFL grind, no grudges, just smart plays keeping everyone

sharp for the season ahead.