Steelers 1st-round pick Max Iheanachor working with 2nd team during OTAs

The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the first team to get OTAs underway on Monday, and everyone showed up to get their first look at Aaron Rodgers after signing a one-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh through next season. Outside of Rodgers, who is protecting the future Hall of Famer this fall was also a big storyline.

The Steelers invested in a franchise tackle to protect both Rodgers and whoever the starting quarterback is after him when they took Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor with the No. 21 overall pick. The Steelers originally looked poised to add Makai Lemon to their wide receiver room, but went to the offensive line once the Eagles moved up in front of them for Lemon.

While the Steelers invested a valuable asset in Iheanachor, that doesn’t mean that he will see the field right away. The top prospect was seen taking reps with the second team on Monday during the first day of OTAs, according to Brian Batko of Post-Gazette Sports.

“For what it’s worth, Mason McCormick and Troy Fautanu have moved as a pair from the right side to LG and LT, with Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook on the right,” Batko reported on X, formerly Twitter. “But Gennings Dunker was repping at LG and Brock Hoffman at RG with the 2s. Max Iheanachor at RT with the 2nd group.”

While this is an eye-opening update, it doesn’t necessarily come as a massive surprise. While some pundits had Iheanachor as one of the top tackles available in a talented class up front, he hasn’t played a whole lot of football and is a bit of a project with high upside. That profile would make sitting him on the bench to start his rookie season a sound decision while he develops some more technically.

Rodgers and new head coach Mike McCarthy are hoping that this Pittsburgh offense can take a big step forward this fall. Perhaps, by the end of the season, Iheanachor will be a major part of that formula.

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