The 2026 NFL Draft for the Pittsburgh Steelers
can’t be truly judged for at least three years. At that point, we will know the true value of the players in this class and, most importantly, whether or not the Steelers’ pick at 21 was a good one.
What I can tell you from being inside Acrisure Stadium the moment the pick went down, however, is that the air left the building. All of the enthusiasm and energy was gone in a flash, and it has little to do with who the Steelers took in Round 1.
Max Iheanachor may turn out to be a great player, and given the recent news surrounding Broderick Jones , this pick was one of need. The problem here is that Omar Khan sat by and watched Eagles GM Howie Roseman trade up to select WR Makai Lemon, who the Steelers were reportedly high on , which was also a position of need.
Instead, the Steelers took a tackle who is worthy of a first-round pick, but who needs a lot of development. Similar to a pick they made a few years back with Jones. For more on Iheanachor, here is A to Z Sports draft analyst AJ Schulte
“Max Iheanachor's draft stock is all about the upside. He's a newcomer to football, as he didn't start playing until 2021. However, his high-end physical gifts are worth the developmental upside swing. Iheanachor boasts very good movement skills, fluidity, and range on an island. He has the ability to reach, cut off, and seal at a high level on the backside of run plays, and his athleticism in space lets him nail defenders on the run with ease.
Unlike a lot of other raw project linemen, Iheanachor doesn't have a lot of bad habits to unlearn. Instead, he's just behind developmentally. He'll need plenty of seasoning with his use of hands and overall awareness, which makes it a risky proposition if he has to start early. If Iheanachor can land in a spot he can develop either under a veteran right tackle or with an established offensive line coach, there's a quality starter to be unlocked. I see a lot of similarities to current Buffalo Bills RT Spencer Brown as a prospect and upside.” – Schulte
Again, if Iheanachor hits, this pick will look a lot better in a few years. But to sit there as if Lemon would fall to the Steelers could leave a sour taste in the mouths of many Steelers fans.
