- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,133,806
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 29: Olaivavega Ioane #71 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 40-36. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just miss on one draft target — they may have missed on two.
Much of the post-draft conversation has centered around wide receiver Makai Lemon, who was reportedly on the phone with Pittsburgh before the Philadelphia Eagles jumped ahead to select him. But according to a recent report, Lemon wasn’t the only player the Steelers had their eye on.
In a recent piece for ESPN, insider Jeremy Fowler revealed that Penn State guard Vega Ioane was also a player of strong interest within Pittsburgh’s building — and one they ultimately watched slip away.
“One industry source keeping close tabs on the guard market believed divisional rival Pittsburgh had an affinity for Ioane, though it’s unclear whether it would have moved up that far,” Fowler wrote.
Ioane didn’t fall far. He was scooped up at No. 14 overall by the rival Baltimore Ravens, adding another layer of intrigue to an already competitive AFC North.
Instead of making an aggressive move up the board, the Steelers stayed put and later selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor — a pick that drew mixed reactions, especially given where he was projected by most draft analysts.
Now, the comparison is unavoidable.
Ioane lands in Baltimore with high expectations as a potential anchor on the interior, while Iheanachor will look to prove he can outperform his draft slot in Pittsburgh. With both players stepping into key roles for division rivals, their development will be tracked side-by-side for years to come.
For the Steelers, it’s a familiar draft storyline — sticking to their board, even if it means living with the “what if.”
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
- Ben Roethlisberger not sold on new Steelers QB Drew Allar
- Heath Miller talks favorite Steelers memories, NFL Draft in Pittsburgh
- Drew Allar, Mike McCarthy are the perfect match for Steelers
- Patriots interested in Mike Tomlin if Mike Vrabel resigns, per report
- Steelers free agent visiting Detroit Lions
Continue reading...
