The Pittsburgh Steelers were forced to pivot from their top choice at pick No. 21 in the first round when the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in and stole USC wide receiver Makai Lemon in a trade-up deal with the Dallas Cowboys. That's when the Steelers turned in their card for Max Iheanachor.
Iheanachor wasn't one of the household names in the draft, and many fans weren't familiar with the Arizona State offensive tackle prior to hearing his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Thankfully, one of the top NFL Draft experts in the business is here to tell fans exactly what to expect from the big offensive tackle.
In his annual draft guide titled 'The Beast', Dane Brugler of The Athletic gives us a synopsis of the good and bad with Iheanachor.
"Iheanachor is still learning how to refine his talent on a more consistent basis, but his traits (athletic build, balanced quickness, play strength) form an exciting foundation for a future starting right tackle. He is an ascending player, although he might require a "redshirt" year—and a patient coaching staff—as he continues to develop."
The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting a raw offensive tackle with high upside in Max Iheanachor
Brugler notes in his draft guide that Iheanachor didn't start playing football until the summer of 2021. Before that, he primarily played soccer and basketball. A Nigerian native, Iheanachor is relatively new to the game of football and quickly rose from the JUCO ranks to become an ascending player for Arizona State.
This is both good and bad. Iheanachor hasn't been playing football his whole life, like many players in this class, which means he has some catching up to do. Likewise, we can expect the 22-year-old to be incredibly raw, considering he started learning the game less than five years ago.
At the same time, Iheanachor's rapid progress is a great sign that he still has a ton of room to grow. The big right tackle is coming off a season that obviously caught the eye of NFL talent evaluators, and he rose in the pre-draft ranks to warrant a first-round pick by the Steelers.
At 6'6'' and 321 pounds with an 83 1/4'' wingspan, Iheanachor has a nearly prototype frame for the position, with a sturdy lower half. The ASU product ran a blazing 4.91 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine to go with a 115'' broad jump (which is good for 95th percentile among offensive tackles since 1999, per Mockdraftable's database).
Unfortunately, this selection by Pittsburgh comes with risk. Iheanachor can be grabby and inconsistent at times. Brugler notes that his strike accuracy in pass protection is all over the place and that he only has reps at right tackle, which likely decreases his versitility at the next level.
Still, the traits are undeniable, and the Pittsburgh Steelers clearly liked what they saw. Fans can't expect Max Iheanachor to be an instant impact starter due to how raw he is as a prospect. However, if he can continue to develop his game, Iheanachor has all the tools to become an excellent right tackle in the NFL down the road.
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