The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2025 NFL Draft with more question marks than answers -- on both sides of the ball. When they came on the clock with the 21st overall pick, the player they reportedly had their eyes on all along—Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon—was still available. General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin were fully aligned in their vision: stop the run, build in the trenches, and find a long-term successor to aging star Cam Heyward. With that, the Steelers made their move, selecting Harmon to anchor the defensive line for years to come.
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Former Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon looks on during a game in college.
The reaction was immediate—and divisive. Many fans were stunned to see the Steelers pass on quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart, both of whom were still on the board. For a team that has faced endless uncertainty under center in recent seasons, the decision to overlook two promising signal-callers in favor of a run-stopping defensive lineman sparked intense debate. Still, there’s no denying the need to reinforce the defensive front, especially with Heyward nearing the end of his storied career. Harmon is viewed by the front office as a foundational player, someone who could be a tone-setter for the defense and help uphold the Steelers’ physical identity.
Not everyone bought into that vision—especially former Steelers defensive back and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark. Clark, a vocal supporter of Sanders, was visibly frustrated when Pittsburgh passed on the Colorado quarterback. He’s made it clear he has little confidence in Mason Rudolph as the answer moving forward and believed Sanders could’ve been a franchise-changing pick.
"Mason Rudolph? Mason Rudolph!" Clark shouted after seeing the Steelers not draft Sanders. "He went to Tennessee and got worse. You know what we're gonna do? Oh, let's wait for Aaron [Rodgers]. Wait for Aaron to make a decision. We let Aaron Rodgers hold us hostage like we're a four. We the Pittsburgh Steelers! We're supposed to be acting like a 10. We acting like a four."
Clark appeared on First Take the morning after the draft and didn’t hold back, saying the Steelers played it safe and missed a golden opportunity. While Pittsburgh focused on shoring up their front seven, Clark believes they passed on their best shot at finally solving their quarterback problem.
"Yes, that’s why I was losing my mind," Clark said. "I had Shedeur as the second-rated quarterback in this draft. I also thought that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be a great landing spot for him, just from a personality standpoint and also with his skill set… Yes, Derrick Harmon is a great player, but if not now, then when? Are we just sitting around expecting Aaron Rodgers to come save the day?"
Clark did acknowledge, however, that the move to draft Harmon might ultimately prove to be the right one for the Steelers. As someone who made his career on a dominant Pittsburgh defense, Clark understands better than most just how important that side of the ball is. He admitted the Steelers might have made the best choice to address their struggling run defense after the way the 2024 season ended.
The unit was exposed far too often, and it became clear that something had to change. In the eyes of the Steelers’ front office, Harmon was that change—and they weren’t going to pass on him.
Steelers' Derrick Harmon Has "Steeler DNA"
When Harmon was still on the board at 21, Khan made it clear they were staying put. He wasn’t going to risk missing out on a player he believes embodies everything it means to be a Steeler. The front office sees Harmon as a tone-setter with the perfect DNA for this franchise—tough, physical, and built to last in the trenches. Harmon, for his part, is thrilled to be in Pittsburgh and is eager to learn under Heyward while helping usher in the next era of Steelers 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.
Still, Clark couldn’t completely hide his disappointment. He truly believed Sanders could have been a game-changer for the franchise and worries the Steelers might regret passing on him. However, even in his frustration, Clark conceded that while the Harmon pick wasn’t flashy, it might end up being the smarter move long-term. In typical Steelers fashion, it wasn’t about hype—it was about building a foundation, and they’re betting big on Harmon to be a cornerstone of what’s next.
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