The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the 21st overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, knowing the rookie would immediately face significant expectations. Pittsburgh didn’t use its first-round pick on a developmental luxury. It selected someone the organization believes can become an essential part of its offensive line. They did, of course, try to draft WR Makai Lemon, but all Steelers fans know how that went by now.
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Steelers' Max Iheanachor puts his helmet on during mandatory minicamp in 2026.
Iheanachor arrived in Pittsburgh following an impressive final season at Arizona State in which he didn’t allow a sack. That production offered the Steelers plenty of reason for optimism, but success in college doesn’t always translate immediately once a rookie begins competing against NFL defenders.
As Steeler Nation learned under the former regime, developing offensive linemen is a fine art. The good news is that Mike McCarthy and James Campen have proof of being fluent in it. Early returns from training camp suggest Iheanachor may be further along than expected. Former Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks has watched him closely and believes, via SNR Drive, the rookie has been Pittsburgh’s best offensive lineman in pass protection during consecutive practices.
"He looked like the best offensive lineman in pass pro two days in a row. Wow," Starks said while speaking on SNR Drive last week. "I caution this because Prisuta and I were talking about this on the Training Camp Live show. I said he will never get an A from me because I can’t give a rookie an A, but he did get a B++. He got a B++, and today he got a B+++. I thought he handled himself well. He never looked out of position."
Starks wasn’t simply praising Iheanachor for winning a few isolated repetitions. His evaluation focused on the technical details that determine whether an offensive tackle can consistently survive against professional pass rushers. The rookie’s contact balance stood out more than anything else.
"He was never out of what we call contact balance, which is two feet on the ground and body position," Starks said. "The worst thing you worry about is a guy with one foot off the ground, kind of leaning and trying to hold on—type of deal, the teeter-totter drill. He was always with two feet on the ground on contact."
Iheanachor’s ability to remain balanced prevented defenders from dictating the outcome of each repetition. Even when he didn’t completely win a drill, he maintained enough control to limit the pass rusher’s available options. That is an encouraging sign for a rookie facing NFL competition for the first time.
Steelers May Already Be Seeing Why Max Iheanachor Was Worth The Investment
The most impressive example came during Iheanachor’s repetitions against Jack Sawyer. Starks noticed that the rookie repeatedly recognized and countered Sawyer’s attempt to win toward the inside. Iheanachor essentially forced him down one predetermined path, allowing the tackle to remain in control of the matchup.
It remains training camp. Iheanachor still needs to prove himself during preseason action and eventually against starting NFL defenders. A first-round rookie will experience difficult practices, and Pittsburgh shouldn’t expect him to look polished during every repetition.
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Steelers' Max Iheanachor blocks TJ Watt during training camp in 2026.
Still, earning a B+++ from a former NFL tackle who refuses to award rookies an A is an encouraging place to begin. The Steelers have spent years searching for consistency along their offensive line. If Iheanachor continues playing with this level of balance, awareness, and control, Pittsburgh may have finally secured another one of its long-term answers.
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