The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting their first real look at the roster in training camp, and already some unexpected storylines are emerging. One of the biggest takeaways from early sessions is that rookie offensive lineman Max Iheanachor isn't just holding his own; he's making life difficult for guys who are supposed to be the ones doing the bullying. The Steelers were thrilled when they were able to draft Jack Sawyer on April 26, 2025, in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft as the 123rd overall pick. It was an exciting move because of how dominant he was in college, but many pundits questioned whether his game would fully translate to the NFL.
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Steelers edge rusher Jack Sawyer stands on the field at St. Vincent College as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
Sawyer entered a crowded room during his rookie season in 2025 with TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig already ahead of him on the depth chart. Finding consistent snaps was always going to be a challenge, but the Steelers viewed him as a long-term piece who could eventually develop into a bigger part of their pass rush rotation. Now entering his second season in 2026, Sawyer is looking for more opportunities, but earning those reps will be difficult with three talented pass rushers still standing in his way.
However, early training camp has already provided Sawyer with a challenge, and it has come from an unexpected source. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly spoke on his show Kaboly + Mack on Tuesday and revealed that Sawyer had a rough start to camp while going against Iheanachor. According to Kaboly, Iheanachor was able to win several battles early and made Sawyer work throughout the practice session.
"I don't think Sawyer has yet, at least I haven't seen him yet in the middle," Kaboly said. "Sawyer had a rough day. He was getting pushed around by Max Iheanachor for the most part. I wouldn't worry about Sawyer though. Sawyer is what he is. He's a big brute, but you gotta like where Iheanachor was in his first day so far."
While the focus may immediately turn toward Sawyer's struggles, the bigger story could be the emergence of Iheanachor. The rookie offensive lineman is already showing confidence against a former Ohio State standout, and early camp battles like this can reveal which young players are ready to compete at the NFL level. For Sawyer, one difficult practice does not define his trajectory, but it does highlight that the Steelers have another intriguing rookie making noise.
Steelers Fans Are Set Up To Be So Thankful For First-Round Blunder
In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, all eyes were on the Steel City. Pittsburgh was hosting the draft for the first time in NFL history, creating an unforgettable atmosphere as the Steelers prepared to make their selection. With Omar Khan fired up and ready to make his pick, he was on the phone with top wide receiver prospect Makai Lemon. The only problem was that, as Khan told Lemon the Steelers were drafting him, Lemon himself asked why the Philadelphia Eagles were calling his phone.
That's right, the Dallas Cowboys had traded with the Eagles to jump ahead of Pittsburgh and select Lemon, leaving the Steelers to quickly pivot. It was a chaotic moment that created an immediate challenge for the organization and led many to question whether Pittsburgh had missed out on a potential difference-maker.
Naturally, that created a difficult first impression for Iheanachor, especially when paired with the Steelers' recent struggles developing offensive linemen like Broderick Jones. There were also questions surrounding Iheanachor's background, as he entered the NFL with fewer than 10 years of football experience compared to many prospects who have played the sport their entire lives.
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Steelers' Max Iheanachor puts his helmet on during mandatory minicamp in 2026.
However, early signs suggest the Steelers may have found something special. While the situation is not the best update for Sawyer after a difficult start to camp, Iheanachor is already showing why Pittsburgh may eventually be thankful that their first-round plans did not go as expected. If he continues developing at this pace, the Steelers could look back years from now and realize the draft-day blunder that frustrated fans turned into one of the biggest steals of the class.
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