Steelers, Max Iheanachor Agree To Deal

The Steelers intended to use their top pick on former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, whom they called beforehand. However, while the Steelers were on the phone with Lemon, he got a call from the Eagles. They moved up from 23rd to 20th in a trade with the Cowboys and drafted Lemon, leaving the Steelers to turn to their Plan B. They pivoted to Iheneachor, whom they expect to emerge as a long-term building block up front.

Iheanachor spent the past two-plus years as the starting right tackle at Arizona State, where he earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. There is a chance Iheanachor will end up as the Steelers’ left tackle down the road, especially if Broderick Jones leaves in free agency next year. For now, though, they plan to keep Iheanachor on the right side.

It is up in the air whether the 6-foot-6, 321-pound Iheanachor will step in as an immediate starter as a rookie. The Steelers are returning last year’s full-time RT starter, 2024 first-rounder Troy Fautanu, but he could be needed on the left side if Jones’ recovery from neck surgery keeps him out for the start of the season. Dylan Cook is also an in-house possibility to fill in for Jones. Cook is the only member of the quartet who was not a first-round pick (he was undrafted), which illustrates how much draft capital the Steelers have spent on the position in recent years. The Jones selection has not gone as planned, though, as the team declined his fifth-year option for 2027 last month.

Along with Iheanachor, the Steelers drafted nine other rookies this year. They now have seven of those players under contract. Here is the defending AFC North champions’ full list of picks:

• Round 1, No. 21: Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State) (signed)
• Round 2, No. 47 (from Colts): Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
• Round 3, No. 76 (from Cowboys): Drew Allar (QB, Penn State)
• Round 3, No. 85: Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 96 (from Seahawks): Gennings Dunker (G, Iowa) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 121: Kaden Wetjen (WR, Iowa) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 169 (from Rams via Chiefs): Riley Nowakowski (TE, Indiana) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 210 (from Rams via Chiefs): Gabe Rubio (DL, Notre Dame) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 224 (from Saints via Patriots): Robert Spears-Jennings (S, Oklahoma) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 230 (from Colts): Eli Heidenreich (RB, Navy)