4 prospects the Steelers should have taken instead of Max Iheanachor
The Steelers choice of OT Max Iheanachor felt out of place Thursday night and we wonder if the team couldn't have done better.
Day One of the 2026 NFL Draft didn't go the way many Pittsburgh Steelers fans thought it would. Hosting the draft, many were excited about the idea of the team making a huge splashy pick in the first round, announced by Steelers legend Jerome Bettis. And it almost worked.
Just minutes before the Steelers were set to take USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, they lost him when they were outsmarted by the Philadelphia Eagles . This forced the Steelers to pivot quickly and the team went from an elite receiver to a project offensive lineman in Max Iheanachor. As we move forward, not just this season but down the road, we want to be sure we are on the record with four prospects the Steelers should have taken instead of Iheanachor and we will let their careers play out to see what happens.
S Dillon Thieneman - Oregon Speed, athleticism, explosion and versatility. This is why the Bears took Thieneman and why he was such a smart pick. G Keylan Rutledge - Georgia Tech The best run-blocking lineman in the draft, bar none.
He's a powerful mauler in the mold of Mason McCormick and an immediate starter for the Texans. OT Caleb Lomu - Utah Another lineman good enough to trade up for, Lomu is the forgotten guy on the Utah offensive lineman but he's a technician with plenty of power and could replace Will Campbell in the starting lineup. WR Omar Cooper Jr.