The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most talked about teams going into the 2025 NFL Draft, and a lot of that has had to do with the uncertainty about the team's intentions with the 21st overall selection. The organization is desperate for a quarterback, and many fans thought that would be the pick in the first round. However, the franchise decided to add to the defensive line by selecting Derrick Harmon out of Oregon. Harmon is likely the right pick as the interior defensive line has struggled recently in Pittsburgh outside of Cam Heyward, although part of the fan base is upset that the pick was not spent on the quarterback position.
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Former Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
Harmon will be able to make an impact immediately, while he will also give the Steelers some clarity on the future at defensive tackle once Heyward decides to retire. This was the smart move for the Steelers to pull off, although it was not the popular one amongst many in the fan base. General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the media on Thursday night after making the selection, and the two were asked about the quarterbacks still on the board when the pick was made. Khan delivered a strong statement that showed his belief in the young defensive tackle.
"We were on the clock, we got the player we wanted," Khan said.
The general manager had this to say when asked about whether or not there was any thought in selecting Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart with the 21st pick, which proved that the organization never really thought about taking a quarterback with Harmon still being on the board. It was not expected for Dart and Sanders to both be on the board when Pittsburgh was picking, and the organization passed on both, despite desperately needing help at quarterback.
This was a bold statement from Khan as the Steelers don't have a ton of options at quarterback. If either Sanders or Dart turns into a franchise player, it could be a bad look for the general manager, although that wouldn't be the case if Harmon is able to have a serious impact on Pittsburgh's defense.
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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 had an impressive season for Oregon in 2024 as his team was one of the best in the country. He is a run stopper in the middle of the defensive line that can get serious pressure to impact the passing game. He should be able to make an impact immediately, whether he is starting or used as a rotational piece. He had some bumps and bruises during his final season in college, but the medical should not be concerning going into the 2025 season.
Both Khan and Tomlin raved about Harmon after picking him, and it was clear both had all the confidence in the world in the pick. Harmon will be able to be a key piece in winning right away, and he should be a key player for the franchise for years to come.
Steelers Still Expected To Pick A Quarterback In The 2025 NFL Draft
There are still plenty of quarterbacks on the board for the Steelers to choose from later on in the event. The organization has shown plenty of interest in the quarterbacks that are expected to go later in the draft, like Will Howard and Kyle McCord, and both of those players could be the pick in later rounds.
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Will Howard celebrates during the National Championship.
Throughout the pre-draft process, a ton of the top draft analysts have suggested that the gap between Sanders and Dart and the lower-graded quarterbacks in the class is not as big as some might think. There could be a better value pick at the position on the board for Pittsburgh later in the event, and the franchise could get lucky and find a diamond in the rough.
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