Training camp battles are one of the highlights of every summer. While many roster spots are effectively decided before the Steelers even arrive at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., a handful of competitions will play out this summer on Chuck Noll Field.
This year, one of the most intriguing battles will take place at right tackle, where Dylan Cook and rookie Max Iheanachor will compete for what appears to be one of the few starting jobs still up for grabs.
On paper, Cook enters camp with a significant advantage. The former undrafted free agent gained valuable experience late in the 2025 season when injuries forced him into the starting lineup. Cook started the final four regular-season games and the Steelers' wild-card playoff matchup against the Texans, showing he could handle real NFL competition.
And the assignment wasn't easy. Over those five starts, Cook matched up against some of the NFL's premier pass rushers, including Aidan Hutchinson, Myles Garrett and Houston's dangerous duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. While he surrendered two sacks and nine pressures during that stretch, he largely held his own considering the level of competition. The low point came when Anderson and Sheldon Rankins combined for a sack-fumble that was returned for a touchdown, ending the Steelers' chances of coming back from a 10-6 deficit in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps more importantly, Cook proved he wasn't overwhelmed by the moment. The experience gave him confidence heading into the offseason, but he's far from content with where his game currently stands:
"It was good to definitely get my feet wet, but there's definitely a lot of things we can work on," Cook told Dejan Kovacevic on May 28. "A lot of things to get better at. Never satisfied."
That mentality could serve him well because Iheanachor may be the most intriguing developmental prospect on the roster.
Although he's still relatively new to football, the Steelers' 2026 first-round pick possesses the type of athletic profile teams spend years searching for. He has prototypical size and length for an NFL tackle (6-6, 321 pounds, 33 7/8-inch arms) while also being a superb athlete. But what may be most encouraging is that he already displays sound footwork despite his very limited experience in the sport.
For a young offensive tackle -- or pretty much any position in football -- that's a critical building block. It's much easier to develop when the footwork is sound.
The challenge for Iheanachor will be translating those physical gifts into consistent technique and production against NFL competition. Training camp will provide his first real opportunity to test himself against established pass rushers on a daily basis, going up against the likes of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.
The Steelers understand he's still developing, but they've also seen enough to believe he could push for playing time sooner rather than later. For now, Iheanachor is taking a measured approach, not trying to get too far ahead of himself.
"It's just day by day for me, just getting better every day," Iheanachor said during mandatory minicamp. "We'll see when we get (to training camp)."
Cook enters camp as the safer option. He's played meaningful NFL snaps, faced elite pass rushers and demonstrated he can survive in difficult situations. On the other hand, Iheanachor represents the unknown. His ceiling may be higher, but his development remains a work in progress, and the Steelers won't get a firm answer on how ready he is until the pads come on during training camp.
Whether the Steelers prioritize Cook's experience or Iheanachor's upside, the battle at right tackle is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines of the summer.
THE ASYLUM
Cook, Iheanachor set for intriguing battle
Training camp battles are one of the highlights of every summer. While many roster spots are effectively decided before the Steelers even arrive at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., a handful of competitions will play out this summer on Chuck Noll Field.
This year, one of the most intriguing battles will take place at right tackle, where Dylan Cook and rookie Max Iheanachor will compete for what appears to be one of the few starting jobs still up for grabs.
On paper, Cook enters camp with a significant advantage. The former undrafted free agent gained valuable experience late in the 2025 season when injuries forced him into the starting lineup. Cook started the final four regular-season games and the Steelers' wild-card playoff matchup against the Texans, showing he could handle real NFL competition.
And the assignment wasn't easy. Over those five starts, Cook matched up against some of the NFL's premier pass rushers, including Aidan Hutchinson, Myles Garrett and Houston's dangerous duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. While he surrendered two sacks and nine pressures during that stretch, he largely held his own considering the level of competition. The low point came when Anderson and Sheldon Rankins combined for a sack-fumble that was returned for a touchdown, ending the Steelers' chances of coming back from a 10-6 deficit in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps more importantly, Cook proved he wasn't overwhelmed by the moment. The experience gave him confidence heading into the offseason, but he's far from content with where his game currently stands:
"It was good to definitely get my feet wet, but there's definitely a lot of things we can work on," Cook told Dejan Kovacevic on May 28. "A lot of things to get better at. Never satisfied."
That mentality could serve him well because Iheanachor may be the most intriguing developmental prospect on the roster.
Although he's still relatively new to football, the Steelers' 2026 first-round pick possesses the type of athletic profile teams spend years searching for. He has prototypical size and length for an NFL tackle (6-6, 321 pounds, 33 7/8-inch arms) while also being a superb athlete. But what may be most encouraging is that he already displays sound footwork despite his very limited experience in the sport.
For a young offensive tackle -- or pretty much any position in football -- that's a critical building block. It's much easier to develop when the footwork is sound.
The challenge for Iheanachor will be translating those physical gifts into consistent technique and production against NFL competition. Training camp will provide his first real opportunity to test himself against established pass rushers on a daily basis, going up against the likes of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig.
The Steelers understand he's still developing, but they've also seen enough to believe he could push for playing time sooner rather than later. For now, Iheanachor is taking a measured approach, not trying to get too far ahead of himself.
"It's just day by day for me, just getting better every day," Iheanachor said during mandatory minicamp. "We'll see when we get (to training camp)."
Cook enters camp as the safer option. He's played meaningful NFL snaps, faced elite pass rushers and demonstrated he can survive in difficult situations. On the other hand, Iheanachor represents the unknown. His ceiling may be higher, but his development remains a work in progress, and the Steelers won't get a firm answer on how ready he is until the pads come on during training camp.
Whether the Steelers prioritize Cook's experience or Iheanachor's upside, the battle at right tackle is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines of the summer.
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