The Pittsburgh Steelers had a clear goal going into the 2025 NFL Draft, and that was to find a way to stop the run. The defense couldn't get opposing offenses off of the field near the end of the 2024 season, and a lot of that had to do with the team's inability to stop the run game. Pittsburgh addressed that issue by selecting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick in the draft, and he should be able to contribute right away. This was the right pick for the organization to make, especially since the young player will be able to learn from a veteran like Cam Heyward.
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Former University of Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon bursts off the line of scrimmage and evades a University of Illinois offensive lineman during a collegiate football contest.
Harmon was considered one of the top defensive tackles in the draft after a successful career in college playing at both Michigan State and Oregon. It was very likely he would be on the board for Pittsburgh at 21, and there was even some chatter about the franchise being able to trade back and still draft him due to some medical concerns. It was rumored that Harmon had some issues with his shoulder that some teams were worried about, and he was asked about that by the local media on Friday on the first day of rookie minicamp.
Derrick Harmon at #Steelers rookie camp:
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) May 9, 2025
“Nothing is wrong with my shoulder. It’s 100%.”
The rookie doesn't seem to be concerned about any ailments with his body as he gears up for his first season as a professional. He addressed this issue after the draft where he said something similar, and he has remained consistent in stating that there is nothing wrong with his shoulder. This is good news for fans in Pittsburgh as the organization saw two of its top four picks in the 2024 NFL Draft play a combined 60 snaps.
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Former Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
Pittsburgh typically likes to ease its rookies into the starting lineup, but it is hard to imagine that will be the case for Harmon. The organization released Larry Ogunjobi during the 2025 offseason, and the depth on the defensive line is questionable at best. The starting defensive line to begin the 2025 season should be Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Harmon -- which will give the rookie a chance to make an immediate impact on the team.
The defensive line is something the Steelers have needed to address for years. The franchise did a good job of that by drafting Benton in 2023, but outside of that, there hasn't been a ton of success at setting up the unit for the future. Heyward has two years left on his contract, and once that expires, it will likely mean the end of his career. Stacking the defensive line now should be considered a priority, and Pittsburgh did a good job of that by drafting Harmon, as well as Yahya Black.
Steelers' Derrick Harmon Has A Promising Injury History
Harmon made it clear he has no current injuries that present a concern, and that has been true for most of his collegiate career. The defensive tackle played in 38 college football games over the last three years, and he only played in four during the 2021 season in order to preserve his redshirt. He may have played through some nagging injuries, but overall, he has not missed considerable time for any injury that should cause concern to the Steelers.
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Former Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon looks on during a game in college.
All signs point to Harmon having a strong rookie season in Pittsburgh. He should see the field a lot, and he will have a lot of opportunity as opposing offensive lines will have to worry about Heyward, Benton, Alex Highsmith, and TJ Watt. Rushing alongside some of those stars will open up some gaps as Harmon's teammates will surely be seeing a good amount of double teams.
Are you concerned at all about Harmon's health? Let us know in the comments below!
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