Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Ray Fittipaldo said he would be shocked if first-round offensive tackle Max Iheanachor starts at the beginning of the 2026 season. Dylan Cook is the favorite to open opposite Troy Fautanu.
Fittipaldo made the comments during a Thursday interview on 93.7 The Fan. He praised Iheanachor’s talent and physical tools but noted the need for additional polish after the player began organized football only in college.
Cook played well late in 2025 and enters training camp as the frontrunner at right tackle. Fittipaldo said he sees a realistic path for Iheanachor to contribute by midseason but not in Week 1.
Iheanachor started 31 games in college. Fittipaldo compared the situation to Broderick Jones, who waited until Week 9 of his rookie year to start.