Presumably, Max Iheanachor and Antwaan Randle El have by no means met. One is a big, athletic offensive lineman. The opposite is a school quarterback who turned a gadget receiver. But, a connection binds the 2. If issues have been barely totally different, the Steelers wouldn’t have drafted both participant. Pittsburgh’s meant decisions have been taken proper beneath their nostril, main Iheanachor and Randle El to turn out to be the workforce’s picks.
Iheanachor’s state of affairs is well-known. Arguably, it turned the story of 2026’s first spherical. Pittsburgh was on the cellphone with USC receiver Makai Lemon and ready to take him twenty first total. That’s till the Philadelphia Eagles traded up with the Dallas Cowboys to seize him as a substitute. Pittsburgh pivoted, deciding on Iheanachor.
Greater than twenty years prior, Randle El was in the same state of affairs. In a peak offseason second, I stumbled throughout the main points of what occurred in the course of the second spherical of the 2002 NFL Draft. The Steelers have been ready to draft BYU exterior linebacker Ryan Denney with the 62nd total choose. Pittsburgh’s brass was on the cellphone with Denney, like they have been with Lemon. That’s, till the Buffalo Payments caught wind of Pittsburgh’s plans and traded up with the San Francisco 49ers to No. 61 and stole away Denney as a substitute.
Pittsburgh pivoted to Randle El.
The Randle El state of affairs clearly obtained much less consideration than Iheanachor. Partially as a result of it was the second spherical, not a shiny first-rounder and face of the category. Partially as a result of it was 2002 when the draft was much less beneath the microscope. The additional layer to 2002 was the trace of collusion that didn’t exist in 2026. As outlined by the Pittsburgh Put up-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette, the Steelers believed the Payments knew of Pittsburgh’s plans from a supply contained in the Steelers’ constructing who contacted Buffalo GM Tom Donahoe, who labored for Pittsburgh within the Nineties.
Motion to cease leaks was taken. A secretary was fired.
Ryan Denney became a wonderful participant, however Pittsburgh made the higher choose. Randle El was extra impactful as a receiver and returner whereas his quarterback roots remained helpful within the professionals. His signature play turned his Tremendous Bowl XL landing move to Hines Ward because the Steelers captured their fifth Lombardi.
Maybe the identical performs out. Possibly Lemon turns into an inoffensive first-rounder, however Iheanachor seems like the higher choose 5 to 10 years from now. A cheerful accident of Pittsburgh “settling” however profitable out in the long term. And make no mistake, the workforce was pleased to draft Iheanachor.
Denney’s story has been instructed a number of instances since. I’m removed from the primary to carry it up because it occurred. A Jacksonville Jaguars reporter talked about it a number of years later, and Bob Labriola has referenced the second, although the element concerning the secretary getting fired wasn’t talked about in both.
As Dave Bryan has identified, Lemon and Iheanachor might be linked going ahead. Every profession might be measured to find out whose is extra profitable. They could be contrasted, however as compared, Iheanachor and Randle El are sure with their very own ties. It’s a reminder that Pittsburgh’s draft day fiasco may finish on a optimistic notice.
