3 & Out - NFL Post Draft Reaction: Steelers botch Makai Lemon pick, Rams overdraft Ty Simpson, bad draft for 49ers?

How are we doing; quick game plan today: no silly draft grades, just real takeaways on the Steelers’ blunder, the Rams’ quarterback swing, the 49ers’ approach, and a few league and college storylines, so let’s dive in.

What happened with the Steelers on night one? They told their target he’d be a Steeler, then the Eagles traded up with Dallas and swiped him, which to me was an unforgivable miss that exposed a front office lacking the dynamic edge you need at the top.

Why does that matter beyond one pick? Pittsburgh used to run on clear alignment from upstairs to the sideline, and that cohesion feels broken while Howie Roseman’s information machine just outworked them.

How does that contrast with Mike McCarthy’s path? He enjoyed blue‑chip infrastructure in Green Bay and Dallas, and that level of support is not what Pittsburgh is offering right now.

What do I make of the Rams taking Ty Simpson at thirteen? It is a wild premium bet on a quarterback whose ceiling looks mid‑pack while Matthew Stafford is still dealing and not walking away if they are competing.

Why the stock talk here? Late hits like Brock Purdy work because the price is tiny, but when you buy high the bar is sky high, and the Packers comps people lean on were value falls, not mid‑first swings.

Could emotion have driven that pick? You have to separate loving a guy from board value, and I do not think they did.

Are the 49ers really botching the draft? In a thin class with no true consensus, they target traits Kyle demands like blocking and yards after catch, so if they love a player they just take him and let the Sundays judge it.

Does Kyle look thrilled on draft night? Not remotely, but the only scoreboard that matters is January and he keeps winning.

How did the outdoor draft play on TV? The traveling, massive crowds inject real energy and have turned a slow event into an easy watch.

Why so many tight ends? Teams want heavier looks to run it and to stress defenses with big movers, and blocking at that spot is often more effort than art.

Does the SEC leading picks still mean what it used to? With NIL and transfers, talent clusters where the money is, and an intriguing wrinkle is that top offensive linemen mostly stayed put, which fits a position built on continuity.

What about the Eagles signing a raw, freak athlete from Nigeria? Teaching someone truly new to the sport takes dedicated coaching and patience, but if it hits it can be another Jordan Mailata story.

How did Diego Pavia end up with only a tryout? Incredible college story and belief, but telling teams you plan to start right away can backfire when you are a fringe NFL athlete, so the road now is steep.

Any pressure notes on college coaches? Colorado and North Carolina produced no draft picks, and with questions about in‑home recruiting and portal usage, the heat is on to turn buzz into pros.

What did you make of Steve Bisciotti making a late pick? A harmless owner pet project in round five can keep him engaged while the football people run the room.

Should we buy the next quarterback class hype? Quarterback boards swing wildly year to year, so resist early coronations and let real games reshuffle the order.

Adios; mailbag is open, and we will talk soon—peace.