Former NFL player Jerome Bettis speaks on stage during the first round of the NFL football draft in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Content Services for the NFL)

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in front of their hometown crowd with the No. 21 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

The Steelers’ offensive line could use some reinforcements after veteran guard Isaac Seumalo left in free agency and left tackle Broderick Jones – their first-round pick in 2023 – recovers from a neck injury that forced him to miss the last seven games of 2025.

Thousands of fans crammed outside Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium for the NFL’s marquee offseason event. They twirled yellow Terrible Towels while “Renegade” by Styx played to welcome Iheanachor, the newest member of the team.

The 6-foot-5, 321-pound Iheanachor, started 31 games at Arizona State and was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection at right tackle. He was born in Nigeria, moved to the United States when he was 13 and started playing football in junior college.

It was the first draft pick for new head coach Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native, who was hired to replace Mike Tomlin in January. Tomlin, who led the Steelers to a Super Bowl title in 2008, stepped down after 19 seasons as coach.

Pittsburgh won the AFC North last season, but the Steelers were routed 30-6 by the Houston Texans in the wild-card round, the most lopsided home playoff loss in team history.

Ioane a Raven

The Baltimore Ravens made the mock drafts look smart.

The Ravens took Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th pick Thursday night. He’s a player who was expected to be one of Baltimore’s targets all along, and even the availability of Miami pass rushing star Rueben Bain Jr. wasn’t enough to knock the Ravens off task. Ioane fills an obvious need for a Baltimore team that had problems in the middle of the offensive line last season.

“It’s hard to not see things for how they are — seeing a lot of mock drafts, things like that, of me coming there,” Ioane said. “I’ve definitely pictured myself blocking for all those people over there — great players.”

The players he’ll be joining are some of the biggest names in the sport — quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry.

“Everybody knows what great players those guys are,” Ioane said. “My thing is coming in and earning my keep. I’ve got to earn the right to block for those guys.”

The Ravens still have issues to resolve up front after losing star center Tyler Linderbaum to free agency. But Ioane, a second-team All-American despite Penn State’s disappointing 2025 season, can help their interior. Baltimore went 8-9 last season, missed the playoffs and then fired coach John Harbaugh.

The Ravens addressed one obvious need — the pass rush — by signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency. Perhaps that’s why they passed on Bain.

They almost didn’t have the 14th pick. Baltimore agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby, then backed out of that deal before it became official.

The result: Ioane is now a Raven.

“I’m coming in with the mentality that I’m not trying to get beat. Nobody’s going to touch my quarterback. It’s as simple as that,” he said. “In the run game, same mindset.”

As for the first round, the first pick did go as predicted.

Fernando Mendoza’s journey from overlooked two-star recruit to the top of the NFL draft was completed after the Las Vegas Raiders took him with the first pick.

Turning the Raiders into a contender is the next challenge for the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to its first national championship.

The 22-year-old quarterback wasn’t in the Steel City for the festivities, choosing instead to celebrate with family and friends at home in Miami.

The Los Angeles Rams surprised draft experts by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick. Simpson, who started just 15 games in college, was among 16 prospects who came to Pittsburgh even though many draft boards had him going in the second round.

Simpson exuded confidence when he walked the red carpet.

“Absolutely, I am confident,” Simpson said. “That’s why I decided to come out. You know with the offensive infrastructure we had in Alabama with other coaches and the offensive system, the weight room, everything was set up to better you for the NFL. And that’s why I stayed at ‘Bama.”

Mendoza’s selection was expected for months. The intrigue began at No. 2 with the New York Jets, who selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State edge Arvell Reese.

“It’s surreal to me,” Bailey said. “It’s an awesome opportunity. I just want to get in there and be a sponge and soak up everything.”

Arizona took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick. Love is the highest running back selected since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 to the New York Giants in 2018.

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate was picked fourth by Tennessee in a surprise move that gives QB Cam Ward — last year’s No. 1 overall pick — a top target.

The Giants took Reese at No. 5, adding a potential elite rusher less than a week after trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati.

The Chiefs traded up to No. 6 to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. Kansas City sent Cleveland the ninth pick along with Nos. 74 and 148 to move up.

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles went seventh to Washington, improving a defense that allowed the most yards in the league last season.

New Orleans selected Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 8, giving QB Tyler Shough a 1-2 punch with Chris Olave.

Utah’s Spencer Fano was the first offensive lineman chosen, going to Cleveland with the ninth pick.

The Giants followed up with another offensive tackle, taking Miami’s Francis Mauigoa at No. 10.

The Cowboys moved up one spot to select versatile Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11. Dallas sent Miami a pair of fifth-rounders and the 12th pick. The Dolphins took Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.

Baltimore chose Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane at No. 14 with a pick they had traded to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby but regained when they voided the trade.

Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was selected by Tampa Bay with the 15th pick, giving the Buccaneers’ dismal pass rush a possible game-changer who was considered a top-10 talent.

“I know I’m the best in the country,” Bain said. “I can do anything I put my mind to because of my mindset.”

The Jets selected the top tight end in the draft at No. 16, taking Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq.

Detroit moved up one spot to take Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the 17th pick. The Lions swapped picks with division rival Minnesota, which chose Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks.

Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, once expected to be a top-10 pick, was chosen by Carolina at No. 19.

The Eagles moved up to 20th in another pick swap involving division rivals and took USC wideout Makai Lemon. Dallas got Philadelphia’s 23rd pick plus two fourth-rounders for No. 20 and a seventh.

Mendoza won’t be rushed into the starting lineup by the Raiders, who haven’t won a playoff game in 24 years. He’ll get a chance to learn from four-time Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins and Raiders part-owner Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion who Mendoza grew up idolizing.

Mendoza is the fourth straight quarterback selected No. 1 overall following Cam Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young. It’s the 10th time in 12 years a QB was the first pick.

None of those 10 have won a Super Bowl, though Jared Goff and Joe Burrow each started one.

In 2024, six QBs were among the top 12 picks. Four have already won playoff games and Drake Maye was 2025 MVP runner-up and started the Super Bowl.

Goodell kicked off the night by walking on stage with Steelers stars T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward, earning the customary boos that greet him each year at the draft. The players waved yellow Terrible Towels while Goodell held his.

“C’mon, you can do better than that,” Goodell said about the boos. “We have over 300,000 people. Let’s go. Let’s hear you.”

Heyward then introduced franchise greats Lynn Swann, Hines Ward and Terry Bradshaw as a sea of Steelers fans roared.

The hometown fans seemed disappointed when the Steeelers selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor 21st. It’s the third time in four years Pittsburgh has drafted an offensive tackle in the first round and fans were hoping for a playmaker.

A pair of edge rushers went back-to-back to the Los Angeles Chargers and Cowboys. Miami’s Akheem Mesidor went at No. 22 to LA and Dallas took Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence.

The Browns got Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion with the 24th pick, giving Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson a potential top target.

Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman went to Chicago at No. 25, bolstering a secondary that’s lost several starters.