Should the 49ers draft Max Iheanachor?
Chad Reuter created a five-round 2026 NFL mock draft where the San Francisco 49ers had arguably the most intriguing selection at pick 27 with Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. His incredible athleticism, surprising technique and IQ establish him as a first-round prospect and a suitable replacement for Trent Williams.
Iheanachor’s background is fascinating. He was born and raised in Nigeria until he was 13 years old before moving to Los Angeles. Originally, he only played soccer and basketball; his high school didn’t even have a football team. However, that all changed in his two years at East Los Angeles College, a JUCO, where he joined the football team. Iheanachor transferred to Arizona State and hasn’t looked back, serving as a cornerstone of the Sun Devils' offense.
The backstory is a bonus, but Iheanachor is an amazing prospect regardless of it. Ruter notes this and explains his fit with the 49ers in the suburb under his selection.
“Even if the 49ers and Trent Williams come to an agreement on a contract restructure for 2026, the veteran left tackle will be 38 when the season starts. Iheanachor played on the right side at Arizona State but lined up on both sides at East Los Angeles College,” Reuter wrote. “He possesses the athleticism to be an excellent pass protector on either end of San Francisco's O-line.”
Trent Williams has been superb for the 49ers the past six seasons, but his future is uncertain. Because of this, it behooves the team to find his potential replacement during the draft. While Iheanachor needs development still, the athleticism and tools required to become a star are evident.
Iheanachor contains the requisite size at six-foot-six, 330 pounds and has 34.25” arms. He uses his agility and elite footwork to effortlessly mirror opposing edge rushers. He’s comfortable on an island and can consistently guard the outside shoulder.
Although he only started playing football in college, Iheanachor has surprisingly good technique. He has excellent punch timing and accuracy and uses it to consistently disrupt defenders' timing. Additionally, he’s a smart player and understands how to eliminate someone from a play.
While his technique is impressive, it’s still not perfect. There are plays where Iheanachor throws his entire body at a defender, leaving him susceptible to counter moves. Another similar issue is during the run game, where he lacks a nasty streak.
He still needs development, but Max Iheanachor is a fascinating option for the 49ers at pick 27. His athleticism, surprisingly developed technique and IQ make him an ideal fit and potential successor to Trent Williams.