On Monday, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport identified the New England Patriots' dream draft target for the 2026 NFL Draft: offensive tackle Max Iheanachor out of Arizona State.
"The New England Patriots made it all the way to Super Bowl LX, and the team is young with a bright future," Davenport wrote. "But after watching Drake Maye take a pounding in the postseason, it's clear that improvement on the offensive line is a key to continued success in 2026."
"Veteran tackle Morgan Moses was steady at right tackle, but he's also about to turn 35. That leaves more than a few draftniks projecting a tackle to the Patriots at No. 31."
"Iheanachor is a raw prospect, but his physical tools and 6'6", 330-pound frame are imposing and his technique improved markedly over his time at ASU," Davenport added. "He also shined at the Senior Bowl."
Iheanachor has built an impressive college football career despite starting the sport later than most. Born in Nigeria and moving to the United States at age 13, he grew up playing soccer and basketball in high school, with no football experience until joining East Los Angeles College as a walk-on in 2021. He spent two seasons (2021–2022) there, developing rapidly and earning recognition as a top JUCO prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.
Iheanachor transferred to Arizona State in 2023, where he quickly contributed. Injuries along the offensive line thrust him into action, leading to six appearances and five starts that year, during which he allowed zero sacks on over 200 pass-blocking snaps. In 2024, he secured the full-time right tackle role, starting all 14 games and helping the Sun Devils reach the College Football Playoff, logging 923 snaps despite recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
His final college season in 2025 showed continued growth: he started every game, played 860 snaps, permitted zero sacks across 484 pass-blocking reps, and earned Second-team All-Big 12 honors. Iheanachor declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after the season and impressed at the Panini Senior Bowl in January 2026, standing out against top edge rushers and boosting his stock as a traits-rich prospect with high upside.
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