2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Breaking down the strengths, weak points, usage, and projected role of Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor. Plus: grades and schematic fit

Updated: 04/11/2026

Note: This season, I’m posting full scouting reports of a ton of players — as well as written columns on some of the top or most intriguing prospects. This is the format I file to scouting services, and that mirrors the “one sheets” you see in NFL front offices — with some explanations about position critical traits for readers. The written-through columns will have deeper explanations on some of the scouting terms and, more importantly, why they matter. Those will come throughout the draft cycle. But I’ve had requests for these quick reports, and so here they are! I’ve updated my process this season, based on the Chargers model that stems from Michigan and is now used in Baltimore and Seattle. If you want to understand more about the changes and any verbiage, I broke the process down on the first scouting evaluations podcast with Jon Ledyard.

---

2026 NFL Draft Hub

Prospect: Max Iheanachor | Jersey #: 58 | Pro Pos.: OT | College Pos.: OT

School: Arizona State | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 321lbs | Speed: 4.91; 1.73

Explosive Index: 9.91 | Age: 22 | Final Grade: 7.40 (Quality Starter)

Draft Projection: First Round

STRONG POINTS:

· A big, long, explosive tackle who started on the right side in college. Has prototypical size and length. Only started playing football in junior college, and that lack of experience and technical refinement shows up constantly. But Iheanachor has unteachable movement skills. He is explosive and nimble — a rare combination.

· The best tackles in the league are smooth and sudden. Iheanachor has buckets of both.

· A truly exceptional athlete. Incredibly explosive out of his stance. Explosive laterally. Iheanachor moves like the special tackles in the league, whether it’s springing into his pass set, pulling to the perimeter in space, moving up to the second-level, or cutting across the formation.

· Extremely juiced up out of his stance and then light on his feet once he’s out in his set. His traits show up every snap — plays with balance and speed. Mirrors comfortably against true take-off demons.

· Has natural power in his hands but often fails to unlock it due to technical breakdowns. Consistently plays too upright in the run game and leads with his chest, forearm, or helmet rather than his hands. He can be a leaner in the run game, rather than someone who creates an eruption at the point of attack. When he throws his hands and brings his feet to the party, he is explosive into contact and can create massive displacement. But it’s too infrequent at this stage in his development.

· Snap speed is elite in the run game. Can establish leverage and position in a flash. Effortless walls off defenders when hinging. Can reach spots in a flash, often before down linemen are aware the ball is in play.

· Explosive moving into space. If the technique tightens up, he can be a weapon in the perimeter run and screen games.

· Strains to finish. Effort and toughness show up all over the film. Keeps his feet churning once he’s latched onto defenders in the run game.

· Incredible speed climbing to the second level. Double and climb technique needs work, but climbing on his own is comfortable and effortless. When everything is timed correctly, he creates a significant surge at the point of attack.

· Excellent ability to change direction. Can slip and slide to mirror and match pass-rushers. His initial springs allow him to widen the corner, then he can slide to close off the inside shoulder while maintaining a balanced base.

· Good positional leverage. Even when his footwork breaks down or his hands are late to fire, he stays in-to-out, always hitting his landmarks.

· Shows the ability to recover his base — sinking and re-anchoring — after losing the initial strike.

· Slightly more polish than you would expect for a player who has barely played ball. Recognizes and anticipates games and pressures. Defenses set their pressure packages to Iheanachor in the season, putting him in two-on-one conflicts or aiming stunts across his face. By the end of the season, they’d backed away. He is always alert to danger and looking for work. His patience and hand placement are more advanced than those of many tackles in the class who have played a lot more.

· Inconsistent with his hand placement and strike timing — but has a solid base to build upon. He has clearly been taught the essentials of the position and, at times, it can feel robotic. He often refers to playing with high and tight hands, which can offset the up-and-down nature of his base. It’s preferable to have taller tackles play with a top-down approach, mastering a tight, high two-hand punch before learning to develop a “scoop” move and to play with independent hands. Right now, he’s predictable and will be caught by NFL pass-rushers. But it’s a strong base to build on.

· Excellent contact balance. He is never, ever on the floor. Exceptional core strength and flexibility. Can drive and move defenders out of position even when in a compromised posture.

· Always looking for work. Excellent play demeanor.

WEAK POINTS:

· Technique is raw, particularly his footwork and how he sets for contact. But it’s all correctable stuff. He is raw, but he is supremely talented. Even with technique breakdowns, he is consistently stacking up win after win on traits and tenacity alone.

· Hat, hip, and hand placement are consistently off in the run game. Leads with his forearm, shoulder, or helmet in the run game. Has to learn to strike, throwing his hands, then bring his feet into contact. There is natural power and strength to uncork from his game with improved technique. The flashes are eye-popping, but they’re only flashes.

· Prone to ducking his head in the run game. Will lead with his helmet and fail to bring his feet behind him. Relies on his initial pop and doesn’t drive through his target.

· Needs better hand placement in the run game. Gets caught grappling with defenders around their shoulders. He can grip, twist, or rock defenders. But too often, it’s comfortable for defenders to stack and shed in the run game due to his hands.

· Will run to his target, not through his target in the run game.

· Rarely screws his feet into the ground, both in the run game and pass pro. Plays up on his toes. Somehow, he still generates movement at the point of attack while playing with poor leverage and robbing himself of a powerful base.

· Plays with a high foot rise in pass protection. Plays on his toes and takes on pass-rushers without his feet screwed into the ground. The natural athlete and anchor flash on that film because he’s not in a perfect position, and he’s still eating up talented players.