The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent years investing in their offensive line, and heading into 2026, the payoff could be right around the corner. However, one former Steelers quarterback just made a bold prediction about the future of that line that has the potential to change everything fans thought they knew about how this season was going to unfold up front.
Mariah Wild / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers' first-round pick Max Iheanachor takes in a moment after being selected during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch sat down on The Snap Count podcast on Big Play Sports Network and was asked about the most important Steelers players heading into the 2026 season. When the conversation turned to the offensive line, Batch did not hesitate. He went out on a limb and made a prediction that goes against the conventional wisdom that Dylan Cook will hold the starting right tackle job all season long.
"Max Iheanachor will be the starter this year. That is my prediction," Batch said. "I think he will take over that right tackle [spot] and he's going to have to play well, and that's going to hopefully solidify what that right side of that line looks like. That's why you drafted him in the first round. First-rounders typically play early. I expect him to do so."
That is a significant prediction from someone who knows this organization inside and out. Batch is not some casual observer throwing out hot takes. He spent years in that locker room, he understands what it takes to survive and thrive in the NFL, and he is saying out loud what a lot of people inside the building might already be thinking. The Steelers did not spend a first-round pick on Max Iheanachor to watch him sit on the bench all season. And Batch is making the case that when training camp opens in Latrobe that timeline is going to move faster than most people expect.
Steelers.com
Former Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch became one of the most well-liked players in team history, as he finished the last eight years of his career with the team.
As SteelerNation has covered, the expected timeline for Iheanachor has been coming into focus all offseason with the general consensus being that Cook starts the year, but the door is open for Iheanachor to take over sooner rather than later.
Steelers' Prediction From Batch Is Probable
The context behind Batch's prediction matters enormously. Iheanachor is not a typical first-round offensive lineman. He only started playing football five years ago after a life spent playing soccer and basketball in Nigeria. The fact that he was taken 21st overall is remarkable on its own. However, what makes Batch's prediction so compelling is the reasoning behind it. First-round picks play early. That is not a radical idea. It is a pattern that the NFL has shown over and over again, and Batch is simply applying that pattern to a situation where the Steelers have every incentive to get their top investment on the field as quickly as possible.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers offensive tackle Max Iheanachor participates in rookie minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2026 offseason.
Aaron Rodgers is in his final NFL season. Troy Fautanu is favored to lock down the left tackle position heading into training camp. Zach Frazier is one of the best young centers in the league. The right side of that line is the last piece of the puzzle and if Iheanachor can step in and solidify it the way Batch believes he can, this offensive line could quietly become one of the most underrated units in the entire AFC. New head coach Mike McCarthy is building an offense designed to protect Rodgers and create lanes for Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle on the ground. Getting the right tackle position locked down early is not just important. It could be the difference between a good season and a great one.
What do you think about Charlie Batch's bold prediction that Max Iheanachor will be the starting right tackle early this season? Let me know on X @hagenbackus94!
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