Steelers' Young Offensive Line: A Draft Steal

0:00On May 1st, Pittsburgh Steelers fans got a solid boost to their offensive line in the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Omar Khan snagged Arizona State Tackle, Max Ihanakor, at number 21 overall, right after missing out on a top receiver. Then in round 3, they grabbed Iowa Lyman Jennings Dunker, seen as a draft steal by many. Free agency shook things up, with veteran guard Isaac Somalo heading to the Arizona Cardinals. The team signed the guard center from the Dallas Cowboys to fill some gaps. Meanwhile, right tackle, broader Jones faces a setback from spinal fusion surgery, pushing the Steelers to rethink their line of early. Now the buzz is all about the starting 5, with fans and analysts eyeing a fresh young union. This projected group left tackle, Troy Fautanu, left guard Jennings Dunker, center Zach Frazier, right guard Mesa McCormick, and right tackle Max. Ihanakor puts the most talented guys, front and center.

1:01Shifting Fautanu back to left tackle from his college days makes sense with his quick feet. Dunker, a big 6 foot 5 frame at 320 pounds, slides inside to guard after dominating a tackle in college. Ihanakor steps right in at right tackle, building on his recent gains. This crew could gel fast through OTA's, mini camp and training camp, setting up one of the league's youngest lines. With these rookies like Dunker and Ihanakor keep developing, Pittsburgh might own the trenches by next season.