The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t exactly wow anyone with their first-round selection of offensive lineman Max Iheanachor at No. 21 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Needing a quarterback or even a wide receiver, the Steelers essentially missed out on both in the first round.
Nevertheless, the Steelers were said to be very high on Iheanachor despite his limited experience. Nigerian-born and not moving to the United States until he was 13 years old, he didn’t play football until enrolling at East Los Angeles College before spending three seasons at Arizona State.
Iheanachor will now be tasked with helping protect the Steelers’ next franchise quarterback, whoever that may be. However, Pittsburgh may have gone in a completely different direction in the first round if Iheanachor’s former Sun Devils teammate had entered this year’s draft.
Steelers Had Eyes On QB Sam Leavitt During Scouting Trip
It appears that when the Steelers were scouting Iheanachor during Arizona State’s 2025 season, he wasn’t even the primary focus. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh was also evaluating quarterback Sam Leavitt during that same visit.
“The Steelers got an up close look at first-round pick Max Iheanachor while on a scouting trip that included a quarterback evaluation,” Fowler wrote. “A top Steelers personnel evaluator visited the Arizona State campus during the 2025 season, in part, to scout quarterback Sam Leavitt, a possible entry in the 2026 draft (Leavitt stayed in college, transferring to LSU). The Steelers already knew about Iheanachor. But the Steelers saw his power and agility in person and were very impressed.”
The Senior Bowl further reinforced Iheanachor’s fit in Pittsburgh, particularly with how he moved in space on pull blocks.
Still, the bigger question lingers — what if Leavitt had declared?
In what was a weak quarterback class, there is a real possibility Leavitt could have been pushed into the first round alongside Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson. Instead, a combination of uncertainty around his stock and a reported $5 million deal at LSU likely kept him in college for another year.
How Sam Leavitt Could Have Changed Steelers’ Draft
If Leavitt had entered the draft and the Steelers were as intrigued as it appears, there is a strong case that Pittsburgh would have gone quarterback at No. 21 overall.
That decision alone would have reshaped their entire draft.
Not only would Iheanachor likely not be the pick — or possibly not land in Pittsburgh at all — but the Steelers probably wouldn’t have selected Penn State quarterback Drew Allar in the third round either.
Allar’s landing spot would then become one of the bigger “what ifs” of the draft, while Leavitt might have been a more universally accepted pick among Steelers fans.
Instead, Allar now becomes a focal point moving forward. His long-term outlook has already sparked debate, with some believing he can develop into the team’s future starter, while others remain skeptical due to his inconsistencies at Penn State.
Ultimately, the responsibility falls on new head coach Mike McCarthy to unlock that potential. Allar’s chances of seeing the field in 2026 appear slim, especially if Aaron Rodgers returns.
But if progress isn’t there, the Steelers could very well find themselves circling back to Leavitt — this time in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Steelers May Have Skipped On Drew Allar If Transfer QB Entered Draft: Report