Every year since joining BTSC in 2024, Ryan Parish puts together a draft gems list. This series is not meant to predict who the Steelers will pick, but rather highlight players Ryan thinks will be viable NFL players, and should be available in Rounds 2-7. Looking for more? Check out Ryan’s picks this year at:
The Steelers have made a heavy commitment to building out the offensive line since Omar Khan took over general manager responsibilities. In Khan’s first draft in charge, he selected left tackle
Broderick Jones. Khan doubled down in 2024 by selecting right tackle Troy Fautanu, center Zach Frazier, and guard Mason McCormick. Jones has struggled to cement himself as a quality player, but the rest of those selections have mostly paid off. As a result, a subsect of the fanbase has gotten offensive line fatigue and rankles at the mention of the Steelers potentially drafting another tackle early in the draft.
But now that more information is coming out about the neck injury Jones suffered late last season — namely that it could require spinal fusion surgery — the Steelers’ hand might be forced. Especially with Pittsburgh now having two games against both Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby on the schedule.
But are there any options at tackle for the Steelers outside of the first round? Fortunately, that’s what this series is meant to explore.
As always:
- Any player selected for this list cannot be commonly mocked as a 1st round pick
- I also avoid players who will have a profile written on BTSC. Paired with the previous rule, this year that disqualifies: Francis Mauigoa, Spencer Fano, Monroe Freeling, Kady Proctor, Caleb Lomu, and Blake Miller.
- Because this list is meant to dig deep into the draft, I will try my best not to give you a majority of second-rounders, though I’m not excluding that tier of prospect entirely.
Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Age: 21
Height/weight: 6’6, 320 pounds
Arm Length: 337/8”, 831/4” wingspan
RAS: 9.87
Those who have been following some of my early draft coverage this year should know that I’m a big fan of the Arizona State Sun Devil. Truthfully, I’m convinced that draft media as a whole remains too low when projecting how highly he could be selected. With many of the presumed top tackles having questions about whether they’re better suited as guards, a player like Iheanachor could benefit from the “tackle tax” and get driven into the first round. But for now, Iheanachor remains the 40th player on the NFL Mock Draft Database, and I’ve yet to see anyone within legacy media project him as a first-round pick, so I’m including him in our list. Besides, what’s the point of writing a series like this if I exclude one of my favorite players and stories in this class?
Iheanachor is still relatively new to the game of football. Born in Nigeria, he and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 13 years old. He played soccer and basketball as a kid, but didn’t play football until 2021, when he joined the East Los Angeles College football team. When one of his coaches took a job at Arizona State, he helped recruit Iheanachor in 2023. He got his first start in Week 3 of that season, before becoming a full-time starter in 2024, and earning second-team Big-12 honors in 2025.
Watching Arizona State this year, initially to study Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson, my attention kept being drawn to number 58 on the line.
While he still has some refining to do with his game, you can see the physical potential with Iheanachor, and his production was nothing to sneeze at. Across 1,159 pass blocking snaps, he allowed just three sacks and 50 pressures. In 2025, he didn’t surrender a single sack and allowed just 14 pressures.
As a run blocker, he shows good instincts, playing with the correct pad level, and taking the right angles when asked to get on the move to block. I’d like to see him display more of the power his frame clearly possesses, but he looks like he should fit in any running scheme. The Steelers would likely have to get creative moving around the board or “reach” for him early, but he’s a player whose got my confidence when it comes to projecting his development.
Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
Age: 24? (unable to find official DOB)
Height/weight: 6’7, 319 pounds
Arm Length: 353/8”, 851/8” wingspan
RAS: N/A
I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue saying it: once you get to the mid-to-late rounds of the NFL Draft, you’re betting on traits. Every prospect in this range will have perceived flaws. That’s especially true if you’re looking at traitsy players who play premium positions. After all, they’d go higher in the draft if there wasn’t some necessary development still needed.
You can’t teach size. And when a tackle has that and quick feet, that’s an investment worth taking a flier on. Enter Dametrious Crownover.
A former tight end who converted to tackle in 2022, Crownover has the ideal length you look for in a tackle prospect. When playing at his best, Crownover’s length allows him to smother pass rushers or redirect them away from their rush lane and out of the play.
Crownover’s tight end background also shows up when he’s asked to get on the move in the run game. He’s a fluid mover for his size, and he shows the foot speed to get to his spot, locate his assignment, and execute.
Like a lot of prospects entering the league, Crownover needs more consistency with his pad level and footwork. He allowed just three sacks across 1,009 pass blocking snaps, but poor footwork at times can lead to him giving up pressure, including 27 across 13 games this past season. Of those pressures, 11 came in the final two games for the Aggies, against Texas and Miami.
Crownover’s age might be another reason he falls. While I can’t find an official DOB listed for him, I found a few indicating that he is 24 and might have a September birthday, making him an older prospect than I’d typically go for. However, that seems to be baked into his draft stock, and I’m much more comfortable with that for a Day 3 prospect as he is currently projected to be.
Markel Bell, Miami
Age: 21 (could not find official DOB)
Height/weight: 6’9, 346 pounds
Arm Length: 363/8”, 871/8” wingspan
RAS: N/A
Bell is the rare prospect whose concerns surrounding his height might be that he’s too tall. While he moves well for a man of his size, pad level and posture will be something he’ll need to remain hyper vigilant on in his career. Smaller, speedier pass rushers might give him challenges in space. He’ll additionally need to work hard to improve his lower-body strength to avoid being bullied by power rushers who can take advantage of his top-heavy build.
If he had been in last year’s class, I might not have even included him in this list, as he is better suited for a gap-scheme running attack. But with a new staff in charge, the Steelers might be open to changing the style of run game they deploy, and Bell has already been announced as the first of 30 pre-draft visits the Steelers can schedule.
And with the right coaching, the traits that could play against Bell could also be turned into strengths. He’s got rare mass and length, and has the demeanor you’d love to have on your team if you’re looking to play a bully ball style of offense.
Here, he breaks down some of his tape against one of this class’s top pass rushers, Cashius Howell, with respected offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn. Still just 21 years old, it’s easy to see the potential for his game to keep improving.
Bell had zero sacks allowed in 2025 and just 15 pressures. If he can master his frame and technique, he could become the embodiment of a brick wall in the NFL. He’s currently projected to go around pick 200.
Jude Bowry, Boston College
Age: 22 (08-19-2003)
Height/weight: 6’5, 314 pounds
Arm Length: 333/4”
RAS: 9.37
Another member on our list who allowed zero sacks in 2025, Bowry looks like a natural at pass protection, able to quickly kick out while maintaining his balance to deal with speed rushers. Get a look at how smooth he looks in the rep below.
The negatives? He’s dealt with injuries during his career, including missing three games in 2025 with a leg injury. He’s also not consistently imposing in the running game. Some reps, he looks fine, but in others, he lacks the drive and push you’d hope for, despite frequently winning the first contact battle against defensive linemen.
Still, his flashes in pass protection could make him worth a late-round flier. He’s projected to go in the 150s.
Diego Pounds, Mississippi
Age: 23 (12-12-2002)
Height/weight: 6’6, 325 pounds
Arm Length: 333/4”
RAS: 9.50
Our final member of the “Zero 2025 sacks” club, Pounds is another powerful prospect with the necessary length to play tackle in the NFL.
Pounds has heavy hands that pair well with his long arms to handle pass rushers.
Pounds is less polished as a run blocker, but you can see his potential in this phase too. His pad level can get too high, and he sometimes lacks the same body control he shows in pass pro, but when he gets his pad level right and plays low, you can see some of the drive potential with his frame.
He’s presently projected as a late-sixth, early-seventh round pick.
Travis Burke, Memphis
Age: (Could not find age or official DOB)
Height/weight: 6’9, 325 pounds
Arm Length: 341/4”, 831/8” wingspan
RAS: 9.01
We’ll close out with a player that’s being projected to be a seventh-round pick or UDFA. Burke is just as tall as Markel Bell, tho leaner and lighter. I was unable to find his age, which, paired with his time spent in smaller programs (Memphis, Florida International, Gardner-Webb), might play into why he could be drafted so late.
Still, I was impressed with how he looks in pass protection. He allowed three sacks in 2025, but just 13 pressures total.
Burke shows heavy hands and shows good bend for a player of his size. He looks to bury defenders, which is a personality trait I always admire in an offensive lineman. He’s a bit of a lumbering mover — which can show up in the running game and did during his 40-yard dash — but in the right system that can be mitigated. If the Steelers are looking for tackles with high upside but a low commitment/draft capital cost, Burke should be on their radar.
