WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in front of their hometown crowd with the No. 21 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. The Steelers’ offensive line could use some reinforcements after veteran guard Isaac Seumalo left in free agency and left tackle Broderick Jones – their first-round pick in 2023 – recovers from a neck injury that forced him to miss the last seven games of 2025. The 6-foot-5, 321-pound Iheanachor, started 31 games at Arizona State and was a second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection at right tackle. He was born in Nigeria, moved to the United States when he was 13 and started playing football in junior college.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Fernando Mendoza’s journey from overlooked two-star recruit to the top of the NFL draft is complete after the Las Vegas Raiders took him with the first pick on Thursday night. Turning the Raiders into a contender is the next challenge for the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to its first national championship. The 22-year-old quarterback wasn’t in the Steel City for the festivities, choosing instead to celebrate with family and friends at home in Miami. Mendoza’s selection was expected for months. The intrigue began at No. 2 with the New York Jets, who selected Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State edge Arvell Reese. Arizona took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the third pick.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom had his 62nd career 10-strikeout game and the Texas Rangers hit two homers in a 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. DeGrom struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings Thursday night and is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his six starts this season. Evan Carter hit a two-run inside-the-park homer for the Rangers, and Corey Seager hit a three-run homer off Pirates rookie Bubba Chandler. Oneil Cruz hit his eighth homer for the Pirates. Pittsburgh shortstop Konner Griffin, in his last game before turning 20, struck out to end the game against Peyton Gray, a 30-year-old pitcher in his big-league debut.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he is taking accountability for actions that have created a distraction for New England without addressing specifics about photos published recently of him with longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. Vrabel spoke for just over seven minutes prior to the start of Thursday’s NFL draft. He vowed to prioritize his family by beginning counseling this weekend and stepping away from the team for draft’s final day Saturday. Vrabel said at a news conference earlier this week that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff, team officials and players following the publication of the photos by the New York Post.