Steelers pick Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor in first round of NFL draft

PITTSBURGH - The Steelers on Thursday used their top pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a move that indicates they have concerns about the status of Broderick Jones.

Iheanachor, listed at 6 feet 6 and 321 pounds, started 26 games at right tackle the past two seasons at Arizona State and was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection. At pick No. 21, he was the sixth tackle selected in the first round - and the first pick of the Mike McCarthy era.

It was the third time in the last four years that the Steelers have used their top pick on an offensive lineman.

"Our offensive line coaches are bouncing off the wall," McCarthy said. "You never have enough big men up front."

His selection raises the possibility the Steelers will move Troy Fautanu, their first-round pick in 2024, from right tackle to the left side. The Steelers also believe they can move Fautanu to guard.

General manager Omar Khan said earlier this week that "nothing has changed" regarding the timetable for Jones' return from neck surgery. But the Steelers obviously have concerns that Jones, their top pick in 2023, might not be ready for training camp and possibly the start of the 2026 season.

"Sure that's a little bit of a concern," Khan said. "You have heard me talk about that. But we have guys on the [offensive] line that can play different positions. We have options."

The Steelers got close to having a shot at USC receiver Makai Lemon, one of the players they coveted.

But the Philadelphia Eagles traded with division rival Dallas to jump up two spots and take Lemon at No. 20, one spot ahead of the Steelers. The Eagles are rumored to be trading All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown, so taking Lemon would appear to validate that possibility.

"You trust your board," Khan said. "But the way it shook out, it brought us to this position. It was the right thing for us."

With Lemon gone, the Steelers still had their choice of a number of players they liked, including Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.

But they chose Iheanachor, an athletic tackle who played soccer and basketball and ran a 4.91 at the combine.

"We're off to a helluva start with our offensive line room," McCarthy said. "And adding Max to this group, I can't tell you how excited we are with the pick."

The Steelers brought in six offensive lineman for top-30 pre-draft interviews, including three tackles. But Iheanachor was not among them. He had a formal interview with the Steelers at the NFL combine and a zoom interview before the draft.

"That was pretty much it," Iheanachor said during a conference call with Pittsburgh area media. "You don't know where you're going. I didn't know where I was about to go. You just appreciate the opportunity to come in to a great organization and get to work."

Former Steelers receiver Hines Ward is an assistant coach at Arizona State and talked with Khan after the selection.

"He's so fired up for Max and for us," Khan said. "He says he's a steal. You hear me talk about guys that are Steelers all the time. And he said this guy's a Steeler."

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 8:37 PM.