The Pittsburgh Steelers were constantly mocked after the 2026 NFL Draft for allowing their top target to get snatched up. The video went viral, as General Manager Omar Khan called up wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon to congratulate him, only for him to look at his phone and say, 'Why is Philly calling me?' At the time, it felt like Max Iheanachor was a panic pick, as he never expected to be a consideration. A great career will make everyone forget about what happened on that night, however.
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Steelers' Art Rooney II shakes hands with 2026 first-round pick Max Iheanachor.
This could have been a blessing in disguise as well. While making an appearance on Straight Facts Homie, former running back Merril Hoge explained how that supposed blunder could be the key to an eventual Super Bowl win.
"[The Philadelphia Eagles] trade in, gets the kid from USC [Makai Lemon]," Hoge said. "At the end of the day, championships are won closest to the ball. Period. Nobody can argue otherwise. That is the foundation of football. The better you are closer to the ball, the better off you're going to be, the more you can control the temp of the game, the less turnovers you have, higher rate of success in our league."
There is no doubt that the Steelers have prioritized the offensive line ever since Khan first got hired to be the general manager. The sheer number of linemen drafted since 2023 proves that, with most of them being taken with priority picks. That quote is not just a running back with a biased opinion; it's a belief that courses through the entire organization as a whole.
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Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge has grown into an influential role within the organization as a scout.
The Steelers see an offensive tackle with elite potential. Iheanachor will get every chance over the next few years to impress his coaches and grow into his role, whether he starts or not in 2026. With how angry the fans have been, turning this inexperienced rookie into a certified stud will go a long way to getting them back on Khan's bandwagon. If not, things may get ugly quick.
It's obvious that the offensive line will be needed play at peak performance for not only Aaron Rodgers' final run, but to help the young quarterbacks develop themselves. Banking on a third- and/or sixth-round pick to eventually be the starter is not exactly a great plan, but if that's the direction this team goes, it may as well give them the best chance to succeed and see this thing through.
Steelers Have Been Paying Close Attention To Recent Playoff Runs
As Hoge mentioned, the Denver Broncos got as far as they did because of how great they were in the trenches. Quarterback Bo Nix is not exactly an impressive player, but when he has all day to make decisions, he can take his play up a couple levels. Denver definitely missed him when it had to play the AFC Championship Game without him, and it cost the team a trip to the big game.
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Broncos QB Bo Nix rolls out to throw a pass.
In that Super Bowl a couple weeks later, the New England Patriots got completely dismantled. The offensive line could not hold up as it allowed six sacks with another pressure leading directly to a pick-six. The Seattle Seahawks did not have to do much on offense because of how the defense put it in quality positions to score. This wasn't even the most lopsided Super Bowl in terms of play in the trenches.
The year before, the Philadelphia Eagles completely smoked the Kansas City Chiefs to win their second Super Bowl title. They also forced six sacks as Patrick Mahomes had one of the worst games of his career due to the constant pressure he was under. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts had plenty of time to throw as he had one of the easiest games of his career. It was 34-0 before Kansas City started scoring in garbage time.
What do you think about the Steelers possibly getting closer to a Super Bowl by missing out on Lemon? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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