The Pittsburgh Steelers delivered an exciting first-round selection in 2025 by drafting Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick. The defensive tackle should be able to come in and contribute immediately, and the fact that he will be under the tutelage of Cam Heyward also provides a ton of excitement for the fan base. The Steelers usually slowly integrate their rookies into a starting role, but that might not be the case for Harmon due to the pressing need on the defensive line, as well as his readiness to make an impact at the NFL level.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon picks out his helmet for his rookie season in 2025.
Pittsburgh had a clear weakness at the end of the 2024 season, and that was stopping the run. The highest-paid defense in the NFL struggled in this regard, as the unit gave up 299 yards on the ground in the team's playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. This was clearly unacceptable, and the organization took steps to fix the issue by drafting Harmon, as well as Yahya Black.
Harmon spoke to the media on Friday, and he talked about why he believes he is ready to make an immediate impact in the NFL for the Steelers.
"I'm coming from Oregon, they throw everything at us," Harmon said. "I was in the NFL at Oregon. I feel like I’m right here. They prepare us at Oregon very well."
Harmon spent just one year at Oregon, but it was by far his best season of college football. Oregon is one of the best run programs in college sports, and a lot of that has to do with the athletic program's connection with Nike. The resources are endless, which helps prepare all of the players for a successful career as a professional.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon during his time with the Oregon Ducks in college during the 2024 season.
Oregon has been one of the best teams in college football over the last two seasons. For the majority of the 2024 season, they were the number one ranked team in the nation, and they made it through the regular season undefeated and wound up winning the Big Ten Championship. This led to Oregon being the number one seed in the playoffs, where they were upset by Will Howard and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Harmon noted that he was essentially an NFL player while at Oregon. This is arguably true, as the preparation it takes to play for a program like that is second to none. He was going against lesser competition than the NFL offers, but he was still able to build a good process for himself while preparing for games throughout the year. He should be able to take this experience, as well as everything he learns from Heyward, and put together a pretty solid career for himself in Pittsburgh.
Steelers' Derrick Harmon Will Be Essential To Team's Success In 2025
Pittsburgh needed to address the run defense and the depth along the defensive line, and it did that by drafting Harmon. He will be rushing alongside Heyward, as well as star outside linebackers Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt. All of those defenders on Pittsburgh's defense will attract a ton of attention from opposing offenses, which should create some opportunities for Harmon to make some plays.
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Former Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon looks on during a game in college.
Harmon had some worries surrounding him going into the draft due to medical concerns. There were some rumors that his shoulder was an issue that could cause him to miss some games at the NFL level, but the rookie defender has come out multiple times since being selected to make it clear that he has no injuries. If he can stay on the field, he should be able to make a strong case for himself to win the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. He will be an integral piece to the league's highest-paid defense, and hopefully he can help stop the run moving forward.
What do you think about Harmon's comments on how prepared he is for the NFL? Let us know in the comments below!
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