The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall in the NFL Draft.
A JUCO product that's still extremely new to playing football but has quickly taken to his coaching at the FCS level, Iheanachor is one of the most intriguing, ascending prospects in the entire draft. Iheanachor is dripping with potential as a pass protector: he's explosive out of his stance, shows off the lateral quickness to mirror rushers, and has the reactive athleticism to get himself out of compromising positions. Obviously, he's still relatively raw, with his strike placement being the main culprit.
Iheanachor was named second-team All-Big 12 Conference in 2025. He started 12 games at right tackle.
Oct 25, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (58) against the Houston Cougars at Mountain America Stadium. — Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images
Born in Nigeria, Iheanachor moved to Compton when he was 13 years old. He not play football growing up. Played soccer in Nigeria.
"An ascending, traits-heavy tackle prospect, Iheanachor is a former high school hooper and late-comer to football. He has good length and excellent lean mass. His hands and footwork need refinement, but his range and play strength should translate to any run scheme," Lance Zierlien of NFL.com wrote in a scouting report. There is work to do with pass-protection technique, but strong performances against Texas Tech's rush duo last season and at the Senior Bowl suggest Iheanachor might be more game-ready than I previously anticipated. In a year light on high-end tackles, Iheanachor's measurables, athleticism and upside could push him up the board."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : BREAKING: Steelers Land Massive Nigerian OL Max Iheanachor in First Round
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