Steelers Snag Max Iheanachor, Nigerian Tackle with Upside

0:00It's April 24th. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is NFL News Today, your AI-powered football briefing. Steele's fans had their hearts set on wide receiver Ethan Lemon around the 21st pick, but the Eagles crashed the party by trading up to number. 20 and snatching him first. Pittsburgh quickly pivoted, grabbing Arizona State offensive tackle Max Ihanakor instead, a raw talent with massive upside at a position they love. To build, Lemon was high on every draft board. Steven visiting the Steelers pre-draft, but Philly's move flipped the script during a week their hockey team. Already dominated Pittsburgh's Penguins. Steelers GM Omar Khan shrugged it off, saying they stuck to their board and went back to beefing up the line for the third time in four years. Ihanakor's story steals the show. He's from Nigeria, Mu Tier 13, played soccer and basketball before discovering football post-high. School thanks to his AAU coach. His parents push for college degrees like Dr. Alloyer, but he chose junior college ball.

1:03Bulking up from a 240 pound tight into, six foot six tackle, scouts rave about his strike power, balance and footwork, and Steele's legend Heinz Ward, now at Arizona State, called him a perfect fit. Still, he's green with limited reps and Khan admits he'll need time to grow, especially with first-rounder Broderick Jones recovering from neck. Surgery that might shuffle the line. Pittsburgh's betting big on the trenches again, eyeing more alignment in their 11 remaining picks to sort the puzzle with Ihanakor, Troy Fautanu, and Jones, if they develop him right, this could turn draft Nidrama into another Steele curtain gem.