Steelers Uncovered What Max Iheanachor Needs To Fix Most

The Pittsburgh Steelers' first-round selection of the 2026 NFL Draft didn't quite go as planned. However, they still managed to recover by pivoting and selecting offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st overall pick. It's no secret that General Manager Omar Khan had his sights set on USC wide receiver Makai Lemon. In fact, Khan was seen live on the phone with Lemon telling him the Steelers were about to draft him. Then everything changed. Lemon informed Khan that the Philadelphia Eagles were calling, forcing Khan and Head Coach Mike McCarthy to quickly adjust their plans before ultimately selecting Iheanachor instead.

Because of all the chaos that surrounded Pittsburgh's first-round pick, fair or not, Iheanachor is going to face even more scrutiny than the typical first-round selection. That's saying a lot considering the expectations that already come with being drafted that high. Still, the selection addressed one of the Steelers' biggest needs and adds another talented piece to a young offensive line that is now being guided by veteran offensive line coach James Campen.

Steelers fans have been eager for every update regarding their 2026 first-round pick, especially as training camp approaches. There is plenty of excitement surrounding Iheanachor's long-term potential, but like every rookie, there are areas of his game that will need refinement before he reaches his ceiling.

In an article for The Athletic published Friday, respected Steelers insider Mike DeFabo revealed the most important aspect of Iheanachor's game that he must improve during his rookie season as he transitions to the NFL and begins his career in Pittsburgh.

"Yes, he needs development. Iheanachor, however, might not be quite as unpolished as you’d expect from someone who started playing football just five years ago," DeFabo said. "He started 29 games at Arizona State. One of the most important parts of his development will be refining his hand usage. That makes sense given his background in soccer and basketball, two sports in which you can’t be as physical with your upper body."

The encouraging part for the Steelers is that hand placement is one of the more coachable aspects of playing offensive tackle. With Campen overseeing his development, Pittsburgh believes those technical flaws can be cleaned up over time. 

Iheanachor already possesses the size, athleticism, and movement skills that NFL teams simply can't teach. If he can sharpen his hand usage and become more consistent with his technique, the Steelers could end up with one of the biggest steals of the 2026 draft.

"He’ll now have to either leapfrog Dylan Cook or wait for an injury to get his shot," DeFabo said. "Based on what Mike McCarthy has said, it seems the Steelers are willing to be patient."

So far, based on what DeFabo has seen throughout the 2026 offseason, the Steelers have kept Iheanachor exclusively at right tackle. 

Steelers Being Wise With 2026 First-Round Pick

DeFabo called that a very smart move by Pittsburgh's coaching staff, allowing him to continue developing at the position where he made all 29 of his starts at Arizona State. 

Rather than overwhelming him by asking him to learn multiple spots early in his career, the Steelers are letting him focus on mastering one position first. DeFabo believes that approach could ultimately speed up Iheanachor's path to seeing the field during his rookie season.

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