Steelers Reportedly Had Multiple Blunders During The 1st Round Of The Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a highly anticipated pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There were some huge question marks on which position the Steelers would draft. A wide receiver, offensive lineman, or even a defender? Would they move up, trade down, or stay put? Many believed that the team would trade up, based on the stockpile of picks it had. However, Pittsburgh stayed put. The front office was betting on a player they liked to fall to them at pick 21. It appeared that way with USC receiver Makai Lemon, slowly slipping down the board. General Manager Omar Khan even gave him a call, which was caught on video, but the Philadelphia Eagles jumped ahead of Pittsburgh and the Black and Gold missed out on the receiver. 

Pittsburgh ended up staying put, to some fans' dismay. The team went in an unexpected direction and took a tackle, who was viewed as more of a project. Max Iheanachor was the pick, and he'll be fighting throughout the Steelers' offseason activities for a spot on a crowded offensive line. While this pick could prove to be beneficial, after the Lemon situation, it seemed as though Pittsburgh was going to cut its losses and try to gain more draft capital by trading down. They missed out on their target player and had the opportunity to wait for another player they liked to drop down the board. 

The Steelers' chance to trade back was something that the front office was trying to accomplish. But with only a minute left on the clock and nothing happening, they had to make the pick. Steelers beat writer Christopher Carter spoke about this misfire on his Locked On Steelers podcast. 

"I do believe the Steelers were trying to trade back. That's why it took them until like under a minute was left on the clock before their pick came in the first round. If you remember how that night worked out, we were all still stunned about how the Eagles came in and just stole Makai Lemon right from under them while [the Steelers] were on the phone with Makai Lemon. And that was a disappointing moment for the Steelers, but then they were scrambling for a bit, trying to look for trade options. But I do think that they absolutely were trying to trade back, and that just didn't work out in that instance," Carter said. 

Pittsburgh was forced to stay put and that's why they picked Iheanachor. The need for an offensive lineman was apparent throughout the offseason, and while some thought the Steelers would wait until the mid-rounds to draft the position, the way the draft shook out forced their hand. 

Time will tell, but this may have been the right pick for Pittsburgh. The Steelers' starting left tackle of 2025, Broderick Jones, is still recovering from an intense neck surgery, and his status is up in the air. This could force Iheanachor into some early opportunities, depending on Jones' rehab progress. A tackle was very much needed in the long run, after the front office declined to pick up Jones' fifth-year option. This pick could pay dividends long-term. 

Why Did The Steelers Pick Iheanachor At 21? 

The Steelers being forced to stay put isn't necessarily a bad thing. There was a risk that Iheanachor may have been picked even before where Pittsburgh would've traded down. Going with a tackle that can shore up the young unit was smart. He has the intangibles: the footwork and size. However, he'll need some refinement to become a great tackle. Tackles were flying off the board early, and it only made sense to nab the one the organization feels confident in. 

Only time will tell regarding Iheanachor's development, but the Steelers may have gotten lucky by not finding a trade partner during the first round of the 2026 draft. If Iheanachor finds himself being a cornerstone of the offensive line, he'll be more than worth the pick. 

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