The NFL, at the end of the day, is a big man's league. Teams that have the biggest and strongest guys up front often play football deep into January and February. The Pittsburgh Steelers certainly subscribe to that idea, even if it hasn't netted them the success it has for many other teams.
Their decision to draft Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round on Thursday proves they aren't ready to move off of that identity, even if fans were clamoring for a playmaker to add explosiveness to a long-dormant offense.
While I generally agree with fans frustration, Yahoo's Nate Tice said something following the Steelers decision that fans should take time to consider.
loved this. Steelers have such a fun group of young OL on their roster. https://t.co/E0rXjQZB0u
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) April 24, 2026
Nate Tice reminds Pittsburgh Steelers fans of what they are building along the offensive line
It may not be the flashy pick, and it may be hard to stomach after the Makai Lemon-Eagles fiasco that rocked the city, but Tice's comment about Iheanachor and the Steelers front should excite fans. If you were to go back in time and tell a Steelers fan from 2021 that the Steelers would have young, talented offensive linemen at four out of five spots, they would jump for joy.
Obviously, nothing is ever that simple. Needing to spend three first-round picks on tackles over four years isn't ideal, but missing on Broderick Jones made finding a new one to develop a priority. Sure, could they find a developmental tackle on Day 2? Probably, but would they have the upside Iheanachor has? Doubtful.
Lemon would have energized the passing game and made life easier for whoever plays quarterback for them, but only if the combination of Dylan Cook and a currently injured Jones is good enough to keep that QB upright. That is the reality the Steelers faced at pick 21, especially if they still plan on having Aaron Rodgers return.
Even if you are tired of general manager Omar Khan hammering the trenches with his top picks, it's hard to be upset with the amount of young talent the Steelers have on the offensive line compared to five years ago.
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