Steelers' Max Iheanachor Hit With Harsh Verdict Before Week 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers must decide whether patience or experience offers the best path at right tackle. First-round rookie Max Iheanachor made his preseason debut in Thursday's 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills after an injury erased most of his preseason. His night included mistakes that created concern and physical flashes explaining why Pittsburgh selected him 21st overall.

Dylan Cook remains listed first at right tackle on Pittsburgh's official depth chart and represents an alternative. The Steelers drafted Iheanachor to become part of their long-term offensive core. His first appearance was never going to look polished. Hiding him after one imperfect exhibition could delay necessary development. 

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter gave Iheanachor a C for his performance and reached the more cautious conclusion. Reuter's film notes were not entirely negative. He credited Iheanachor's athleticism when quickly entering a jump-set, highlighted his lead block on Eli Heidenreich's third-quarter touchdown, and recognized his ability to stop veteran Michael Danna's bull rush. Those are meaningful flashes because they display movement skills and strength that cannot simply be coached into every tackle.

"Iheanachor's play against Buffalo made it clear that the first-round pick needs to refine his game before becoming a starter," Reuter wrote.

The criticism focused primarily on Iheanachor's timing and technique. Reuter wrote that the rookie was "often late with his hands" while identifying a missed reach block, a sack allowed and the holding penalty that followed during Pittsburgh's next possession.

That is a legitimate concern without making Reuter's final verdict necessary. Iheanachor had been sidelined since Aug. 6 and was cleared to return only days before the Buffalo game. He missed Pittsburgh's first two exhibitions and entered his professional debut with only two practices behind him. Early rust should have been expected.

What mattered most was his response. Iheanachor did not allow the difficult beginning to overwhelm the remainder of his night. He became more comfortable, played faster and began displaying the traits that pushed him into the first round. Improvement within the same game revealed something valuable about how he handles adversity. That is why Ben Roethlisberger's perspective feels more practical. While discussing Pittsburgh's right tackle competition on Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former quarterback argued that the rookie should start immediately and learn through the unavoidable problems.

"He needs to be in there," Roethlisberger said. "He needs to take his lumps, take his bumps."

Roethlisberger called the approach a "baptism by fire." Offensive tackles cannot master NFL speed exclusively through meetings and practice repetitions. Eventually, Iheanachor must face experienced pass rushers who will identify every flaw and force him to correct it.

Pittsburgh can protect him without removing him. Mike McCarthy can use tight ends to chip, slide protection toward the rookie or give the running backs assignments that prevent Iheanachor from being isolated repeatedly. Those adjustments would allow him to grow without asking Aaron Rodgers to absorb unnecessary punishment.

Cook also gives the Steelers a legitimate safety net. He started Pittsburgh's final four regular-season games in 2025, and the team went 3-1. His 280 career offensive snaps include only one penalty, demonstrating that the veteran can enter without making the position unstable.

Steelers Should Let Max Iheanachor Grow Through Mistakes

The Steelers should start Iheanachor in Week 1 while keeping Cook prepared if the rookie becomes overwhelmed. A predetermined series-by-series rotation could disrupt continuity, but Pittsburgh does not need to choose between abandoning its first-round pick and leaving itself without protection.

The trade of Broderick Jones and Jack Driscoll's placement on injured reserve left Pittsburgh with only three active tackles: Troy Fautanu, Cook and Iheanachor. The rookie was drafted for this opportunity. Delaying it solely because his first professional action contained mistakes would place too much weight on an unusually difficult debut setup.

This offensive line has the potential to become special, but potential is only a blueprint. Fautanu, Mason McCormick, Zach Frazier, Spencer Anderson and Iheanachor need meaningful snaps together to turn that plan into something reliable. Reuter identified real flaws, but Roethlisberger supplied the better solution. Let the rookie learn while playing.

Should Pittsburgh throw Iheanachor into the fire against Atlanta, or trust Cook until the first-rounder is more polished? Share your Steelers take with me on X (@anthonyghalkias), and follow me for more Black and Gold coverage and discussion. 

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