
NFL analyst Gennaro Filice has mocked offensive tackle Max Iheanachor to the Houston Texans in his 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0. Iheanachor, a raw but athletic prospect from Arizona State, is seen as a key addition to protect quarterback CJ Stroud.
Max Iheanachor Mocked to the Texans by NFL Expert
NFL analyst Gennaro Filice released his 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 on Monday, April 13 where the Houston Texans selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor - the high upside option from Arizona State. Tackle is a necessity for the Texans during the draft, as they must protect CJ Stroud and give him time to operate. This makes Iheanachor an enticing option as the team's future right tackle.
Ihanachor is still a raw prospect, but that makes sense given his background. Filice dives into this in his article and explains how thatās intriguing to NFL teams.
āA Nigeria native who moved to the States as a teenager, Iheanachor didnāt start playing football until 2021, when he went out for the JUCO team at East Los Angeles College,ā Filice wrote. āBut the former basketball and soccer player possesses rare athletic traits at 6-6 and 321 pounds. Swift growth over the last three years at Arizona State makes Iheanachor one of the most tantalizing developmental prospects in this draft.ā
Iheanachorās improvements through his collegiate career are the primary reason heās a first-round prospect. He has surprisingly great technique and is able to eliminate opposing pass rushers. He has impressive punch timing and accuracy, which helps disrupt defendersā timing and mitigate their rush.
Additionally, his superb movement skills let him keep up with any foe. Iheanachorās aforementioned basketball and soccer background translates to the field, giving him exceptional footwork and balance. He fires smoothly out of his stance and gets ample depth in his opening steps to eliminate the outside shoulder. Then, his agility helps him respond to counter moves and stay in front of the opposition.
Although the Big 12 isnāt known for its elite competition, Iheanachor is battle-tested. He held his own against David Bailey and Romello Height, performing better than any other tackle against them. This should assure NFL teams that heās able to match up against elite defenders.
While Ihanachorās an elite prospect, he isnāt perfect. There are instances where he throws his entire body at the defender. This leaves him in a subpar position and lets the defender easily use a countermove to reach the quarterback. Also, he hasnāt developed a nasty streak in the run game. Heās capable, but doesnāt have that mauler mentality yet.
Overall, Max Iheanachor is a promising offensive tackle who would be a perfect addition to the Texans in round one of the draft. Heās still developing, but his pure athleticism and improvements throughout college should make teams feel comfortable with the selection. Iheanachor is the ideal selection at pick 28 and would help protect CJ Stroud for the foreseeable future.
Max Iheanachor is an offensive tackle from Arizona State, mocked to the Texans due to his potential to protect quarterback CJ Stroud.
Iheanachor stands 6-6 and weighs 321 pounds; he is a Nigeria native who started playing football in 2021 after transitioning from basketball and soccer.
His rare athletic traits and rapid development over the past three years make Iheanachor one of the most intriguing developmental prospects in the draft.

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