The NFL is all about finding elite players at premier positions. One of those is offensive tackle, and the Green Bay Packers may very well see Rasheed Walker leave town in free agency or be tagged and traded. That would leave a chasm at left tackle for the Packers' offense.
Zach Tom could be slid back over to the left side of the line, where he starred in college at Wake Forest, and the Packers could try their luck at landing a high-end right tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft. Arizona State's Max Iheanachor should be of interest to Matt LaFleur and Co.
Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes:
Height:Â 6055
Weight: 325
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time:Â 5.15
Recruiting:Â Family moved from Nigeria to USA when he was 13. Did not play football until college. Began at East Los Angeles College before transferring to Arizona State. No. 11 ranked JUCO transfer in class of 2023.
College Production:Â 32 games played at Division I level, nearly 2,000 offensive snaps. Gave up just two sacks at Arizona State in three years, and zero since September 2024. Second-Team All Big-12 in 2025.
Positives:
- Every physical trait a coach could want in an OT. 34.5" arms, lean muscle mass, strong as an ox, and good size at 6-foot-5 and 5/8". Has upside to be a great NFL offensive tackle
- Incredible athlete. Obvious basketball background. Lateral quickness is a major strength and allows him to keep up with speed rushes. Great mover in the run game getting to second level.
- Quick feet allow him to close space and seal off blockers in outside zone schemes. Great on down blocks and doubles. Would fit perfectly into Matt LaFleur's offense.
- Power is evident when he puts it all together. First punch is strong and quick, can knock defenders off balance when well-timed. Length can bail him out from mistakes, too.
- Constantly improving. Didn't play football until late teens but showed up big against great Texas Tech defense (2 hurries, no hits or pressures) and made noise at Senior Bowl.
- Wildly competitive. Nasty streak to him, finishes plays to and through the whistle. Defenders take exception to this, as a scuffle started at the Senior Bowl because he plays so aggressively.
Iheanachor has every physical tool in the book to be an exceptional offensive tackle in the NFL. "Polish" isn't really a word you'd use to describe him, but his relative inexperience can also be a good thing, as his ceiling is unfathomably high and he's formed no real bad habits. He's a monster and just needs to get in with the right coaching staff and into a system that can maximize him.
Negatives:Â
- Footwork needs refinement. While quick moving and getting to the second level, he struggles with maintaining the proper technique and pad level while on the move at times.
- Punch, while powerful, is often misstimed. This can put him behind the 8-Ball, which leads to him being handsy or getting outside the defender's frame. (16 college penalties, 8 in 2025)
- Struggles with pre-snap recognition and adjusting on the fly, so teams could pick on him with stunts. But growth here will happen as he continues to play the game. He's only in Year 5.
With a strong offseason, a team could feel comfortable sliding Iheanachor into the starting lineup right away. He'll make his share of mistakes, but his physical tools often bail him out. He proved against Texas Tech and at the Senior Bowl that the moment and competition is not too big for him, so his steady ascension may keep on its trajectory. But that doesn't mean he won't need a lot of work.
Max Iheanachor NFL Player Comparison: Charles Grant
Grant and Iheanachor are both roughly 6-foot-5 with over 34.5" arms. Iheanachor is a bit heavier and played at a higher level of college football, however, so he projects to the NFL level more immediately than Grant did a year ago, who was a third-round selection by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Both players have massive frames and good mobility, and they each move laterally well for their size. But questions about inconsistent punching in pass protection, pad level in the run game and a tendency to draw flags define both of them as prospects.
Max Iheanachor NFL Draft Grade: Second Round
Iheanachor isn't polished enough to be a first-round prospect, but that is okay. The Packers aren't picking until the second round. Iheanachor may have creeped into the early second-round with his performance at the Senior Bowl, but a lot of time and evaluation still separates us from the draft.
His production is surprisingly great for a player who hasn't played football all that long, and with his traits and upside, teams may look back in a few years and wonder why he wasn't on their radar in Round 1. It will take some time for him to get there, but Iheanachor can be a real difference-maker.