Story perspectives

Steelers Draft Tackle Iheanachor, Miss Lemon Amid Early Contact Fallout

5/2/2026

Summary

Steelers Draft Max

Steelers drafted tackle Max Iheanachor No. 21 overall after missing USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
GM Omar Khan said the draft was exciting and had no ill intent, while Coach Mike McCarthy urged staff to trust the board.
NFL executives criticized the Steelers for contacting Lemon before the clock, saying it may have revealed their intent.

Summary

Steelers Young Line

The Steelers project a five-man starting offensive line—Troy Fautanu, Gennings Dunker, Zach Frazier, Mason McCormick and Max Iheanachor—making it one of the NFL’s youngest units.
Scouts cite Dunker’s 6-foot-5, 320-pound frame and 33½-inch arms as ideal for interior guard play.
The team will shift right tackle Fautanu to left tackle to use his foot quickness from Washington.
Veteran offensive-line coach James Campen will mentor the young unit during training camp.

Summary

Khan Weidl Dilemma

GM Omar Khan and Andy Weidl favor an “outside-in” offensive-line scheme.
Salary-cap limits force the Steelers to choose between an “inside-out” plan with three interior linemen or an “outside-in” plan with two top tackles.
Broderick Jones is expected to leave, and his trade value could bring a compensatory draft pick, possibly in 2028.

History

Historical Context

After Chuck Noll became head coach in 1969, the Steelers built a dynasty that exploded in the 1974 NFL draft, when Pittsburgh selected Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann, linebacker Jack Lambert, tight end John Stallworth and center Mike Webster—four future inductees from one class. Those picks helped the 1974 team post a 10-3-1 record and win the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

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Steelers Draft Max

Steelers drafted tackle Max Iheanachor No. 21 overall after missing USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.
GM Omar Khan said the draft was exciting and had no ill intent, while Coach Mike McCarthy urged staff to trust the board.
NFL executives criticized the Steelers for contacting Lemon before the clock, saying it may have revealed their intent.

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