PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have been waiting to re-stock their defensive line after two drafts of focusing on the offensive side of the trenches, and they did just that, drafting Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 21st pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2024 Harmon was a second-team All-American, recording 45 tackles, five sacks and a pair of forced and recovered fumbles.
The interior threat bolsters a defensive line that already includes Cameron Heyward, with whom Harmon is often compared. According to his NFL.com prospect profile, one NFC executive went as far as saying that “He plays like a Raven or a Steeler. Off the tape, he reminds me of a young Cam Heyward but bigger.”
He stands six-foot, five inches and weighs 313 pounds. His 4.95 second 40-yard dash at the combine was tied for fifth-fastest of the 19 players at his position, and the fastest of any over 300 pounds.
It’s with this speed that he’s able to reach the backfield shockingly fast. His placement on the line frequently varied. He’s able to be used against tackles outside, or centers in the middle.
He showed to be capable in a variety of rushes, whether its blowing past a lineman or sucking up blockers to give a linebacker a clear path through. When he shares the field with T.J. Watt, the ladder may become his specialty.
The Detroit native redshirted and played two seasons at Michigan State before his junior year in Oregon last fall. He was linked to Pittsburgh for most of the spring, visiting the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in early April. He was a consensus pick for the later end of the first round, even with his age. He won’t turn 22 until training camp.
Barring a trade, the Steelers’ next chance to draft will come tomorrow in the third-round, with the 83rd overall pick.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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