Full Breakdown
Steelers Draft Max Iheanachor After Missed Wide Receiver Call
4/26/2026, 2:30:01 AM
First-Round Selection
The Pittsburgh Steelers used the 21st overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a 6-6, 321-lb player who addresses a left-side line vacancy after Isaac Seumalo’s departure and Broderick Jones’s injury.
Missed Call with Makai Lemon
During the first round, Steelers GM Omar Khan was on a call with USC wide receiver Makai Lemon when the Philadelphia Eagles selected Lemon. NFL rules bar “off-clock” clubs from discussing draft-eligible players that interfere with the on-clock team; the call sparked criticism that the Steelers may have breached the rule and suffered embarrassment for losing the receiver they targeted.
Iheanachor’s Unconventional Journey
Born in Nigeria, Iheanachor moved to the United States at 13, playing soccer. He did not touch American football until enrolling at East Los Angeles College in 2021, after an AAU coach suggested he try football. Despite a rough freshman year and parental pressure for a four-year college, he earned a scholarship at Arizona State, started 31 games at right tackle, and allowed only three sacks in 1,159 pass-block snaps.
Team Needs and Draft Rationale
The Steelers entered the draft with a thin left-side line after Seumalo’s departure and Jones’s neck injury. Iheanachor’s size and athleticism give the club flexibility to start him at right tackle while veteran Troy Fautanu could shift left. The pick also adds depth with later-round pick Gennings Dunker (No. 96). Draft analysts graded it B- to A, noting its upside.
Official Statements & Responses
Art Rooney II introduced Iheanachor, calling his journey “crazy.” Officials praised his athleticism.
Criticism & Opposition
Former NFL defensive back Chris Canty criticized the pick as a missed opportunity to address the offensive line, noting the roster already includes receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf. Analyst Evan Cohen dismissed speculation that the Steelers used the Lemon call as a trade-up ploy, calling the theory implausible.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on whether the Lemon call was a deliberate ploy to lure another team into a trade-up scenario; no official confirmation exists, leaving the motive for the pivot to Iheanachor speculative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What I like about Max, he’s just an ultra athletic player that’s just scratching the surface,” — James Campen, Steelers offensive line coach
- “Did one Pennsylvania team save the other Pennsylvania team from itself,” — Chris Canty, former NFL player
- “It's crazy still. But it's just really exciting, just being blessed. All we can ask for in this life is opportunity. God, you pray for stuff, and you've just got to do the work, and everything else falls into place.” — Max Iheanachor, rookie
- “I don't buy that they were gonna do that.” — Evan Cohen, analyst
What's Next
Iheanachor reports to training camp under Campen and veteran guard Jahri Evans, who will refine his technique; if Jones remains sidelined, the rookie could see early-season snaps at right tackle and develop into a long-term cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s offensive front.
