The Pittsburgh Steelers made one of the most dramatic first-round picks in recent memory when they selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The buzz around the rookie throughout Organized Team Activities and minicamp has been nothing but positive as well. One of the most trusted voices covering this team however, just made a brutally honest admission about Iheanachor's path to the starting lineup that every Steelers fan needs to hear before training camp opens in Latrobe.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers first-round pick Max Iheanachor speaks at a press conference during the 2026 NFL Draft at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in Pittsburgh.
On a recent episode of the Locked On Steelers podcast, Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette broke down where the Steelers stand at every position heading into training camp. When the conversation turned to the offensive line, he did not sugarcoat it. Carter pointed to new offensive line coach James Campen, who made it abundantly clear that Iheanachor is not walking into Latrobe and taking a starting job. The message from Campen was simple. The rookie needs to sit behind veterans, learn the pace of an NFL season, and earn his spot before he is handed anything.
"When we talked to James Campen, he kind of made it clear, like he thinks that Iheanachor will clearly benefit from sitting behind some veterans and getting a pace of things," Carter explained. "So, I personally think Iheanachor is going to sit Week 1. Now, like you said, there's always that pressure from the front office. We want to see the guy that we drafted in the first round get some shots. But I think that there's going to be not just Dylan Cook, but also Broderick Jones factoring in at right tackle for who can have that spot. And I think that they're going to be fine with, hey, Max, just sit back this year. Be ready if you're called upon, but this is your learning year. This is your get up to speed year."
That is a significant statement when you consider what the Steelers gave up to get Iheanachor. This is a first-round pick. This is a player they spent a top 25 selection on at a position of need. And the message coming out of the coaching staff is patience. That says everything about where the Steelers believe Iheanachor is in his development right now and what they think the realistic timeline looks like for him to contribute at a high level in the NFL.
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Steelers' Max Iheanachor puts his helmet on during mandatory minicamp in 2026.
As SteelerNation has covered, the expected timeline for Iheanachor is starting to come into focus and Dylan Cook appears to have the inside track heading into training camp.
Steelers' Update Should Not Surprise Anyone
The context here matters. Iheanachor is not your typical first-round offensive lineman. He only started playing football five years ago after spending most of his life playing soccer and basketball in Nigeria and then in Los Angeles. He is a remarkable athlete with elite mobility and size, and the ceiling on his development is as high as any offensive lineman the Steelers have drafted in years. However, ceiling and readiness are two very different things. Cook showed last season that he can start and hold his own at right tackle, and the Steelers are not going to yank a proven veteran out of the lineup just to throw a rookie into the fire before he is ready.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor tries on helmets upon arriving at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA ahead of rookie minicamp during the 2026 offseason.
Training camp in Latrobe is going to be the first real test of whether Iheanachor is ahead of schedule or right on pace with what the coaching staff expects. Either way, Steelers fans should be watching every single rep he takes.
What do you think about Carter's brutal take on Max Iheanachor heading into training camp? Will the rookie get on the field in 2026? Let me know on X @hagenbackus94!
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