Steelers Insider Excitedly Believes This Rookie Could Play Sooner Than Expected

The Pittsburgh Steelers went through Organized Team Activities with a lot of changes to their offensive line. They shifted some of their key contributors around, adding some versatility to their bag of tricks. That'll have things looking different up front, and with newly hired offensive line coach James Campen, he will have his work cut out for him in setting up their unit to keep Aaron Rodgers protected. On top of experienced players moving around, the Steelers will also feature some young guys looking to make an early impact in the NFL.

One guy that could see time quickly is first-round pick Max Iheanachor. The young offensive tackle out of Arizona State is the third tackle Pittsburgh has taken in the last four drafts. It's a premier position and he is competing for the right tackle spot with Dylan Cook. This competition could go either way, but there's a lot of value with Iheanachor that may get him into the mix very early. 

Obviously, his talent got him drafted in the first round, but there are qualities that have set him apart from other prospects. Steelers insider Mike Prisuta recently talked about what he really liked about Iheanachor initially on the Steel City Insider with Jim Wexell. What Prisuta talked about stood out to Pittsburgh early and it made him a prospect that the organization knew they should take a chance on. Prisuta now describes him as one of the rookies he's most excited to watch for this season and if he can make an early impact, that would really help the future outlook on this offense.

"One of the things that really fast-tracked Max Iheanachor to the first round was how quickly he took the coaching in practices," Prisuta recalled. "Now he’s got a whole different level of instruction and he took to it and learned from it. I think that guy's playing sooner rather than later -- if he stays on that track."

Getting this offensive line corrected moving forward is extremely important for this organization. They, of course, need to protect Rodgers to the best of their ability this year. They can't afford the 42-year-old to get hurt and he might not be able to take as many hits as he used to. Keeping his production up is the Steelers' top priority, as he will direct this team in their pursuit of winning a Super Bowl.

Depending on what they decide to do at right tackle, seeing what Iheanachor can do may play a significant role in the production that this unit can bring. Cook may initially win the starting job as he brings more experience and positive production in his early NFL career, but Iheanachor may jump into the first after a few weeks. That's what Prisuta is suggesting based on what he believes in this young tackle. His ability to learn and willingness to hear out the coaches will help him a ton and that can help him get comfortable for his first year of professional football.

This is a very significant year for the franchise, especially when it comes to the development of this offensive line. They have the building blocks up front, but they need to fill it out for the future of this team. There may be a young, inexperienced quarterback in the mix in 2027, so Pittsburgh needs to find a way to protect him with the best line possible.

Steelers Rookies Have Had To Wait To Start In Years Past

Looking at other players in the past, it took a little bit of time before rookies got in. Prisuta thinks with Iheanachor, he may have a better chance to prove himself early than other rookies in the past. 

Getting him situated for the NFL could be huge for this organization, especially since he was this year's first-round pick. This will be a big storyline to follow into training camp this summer.

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