Steelers Snag Max Iheanachor, Offensive Line Anchor

0:00On May 1st, the Pittsburgh Steelers just snagged Arizona State Tackle, Max Ihanakor at 21st overall in the first round of the 20, 26 NFL draft. He wasn't their top summer target, but after months of scouting, he rose to the player they wanted most. They kicked off draft prep-iron quarterbacks, expecting a stacked class. Scouts hit gains for prospects like Penn State's Drew Aller, UCLA's Nikolai Amaliyava, and Texas's Archmaning, among a dozen others. But the QB hype crashed hard. Most stars returned to school, got hurt, or flopped, leaving just a couple as legit first rounders. Meanwhile, during trips to scout Arizona State's Sam Levitt, evaluators spotted Ihanakor shining bright. Assistant GM Andy Weidel, a former lineman who rebuilt lines in Philly and Pittsburgh, led the Senior Bowl crew. They needed guard help after Isaac C. Amalo left in free agency, but Ihanakor's Tackle play stole the show over other targets. When Whiteouts like Jordan Tyson went too high and planned shifted, Ihanakor fit perfect as their offensive line anchor, proving deep scouting turns, surprises into steals.