After watching Russell Wilson and Justin Fields walk in free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers are left with only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson in their QB room.
As such, most expected them to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, and the board fell their way. After Cam Ward was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 1 overall pick, no other quarterbacks were taken until the Steelers were on the clock at No. 21.
Shedeur Sanders was heavily rumored to be a Steelers target ahead of the draft. Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe both received some first-round hype in the past few weeks. The options were there. Instead, Pittsburgh opted to pass on all the available passers, taking a defensive line prospect with the 21st overall pick.
Steelers Take DT Derrick Harmon in 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft
Despite their need at quarterback, as well as at cornerback, where Michigan’s Will Johnson was still available, the Steelers elected to take Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with their first pick in the draft.
In PFSN’s scouting report on Harmon, Ian Cummings praised the defensive lineman for his versatility as both a run-stuffer and a pass-rusher, as well as his impressive size.
“There’s something to be said about a DT who’s reliable in both phases of the game. Whether you need a pass-rushing catalyst or a stout run defender with two-gapping ability, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon has what you need,” Cummings wrote.
“That’s why he’s a popular Round 1 target. At around 6’4 1/2″ and a playing weight of 320 pounds, with over 34″ arms, Harmon outmatches many blockers off size alone. In the run game, his anchor strength and shedding ability can be overwhelming, and his violent hands erode blocks on the rush,” he continued.
“Harmon’s pad level can drift high at times, and he has moderate hip stiffness, which can limit his versatility as a stunting lineman. That said, as a two-gapping Goliath with a ruthless power element and motor in the passing game, Harmon has impact starter upside.”
In the final PFSN seven-round mock draft, Harmon was mocked to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22, so the Steelers got fair value with their pick.
Still, it’s hard to understand the method behind the madness. Superstar edge rusher T.J. Watt has been the subject of incessant trade rumors in recent weeks, as the team continues to fail to put a competitive team around him.
The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. It’s hard to believe Rudolph is going to change that.
In addition, for all of Harmon’s talent, the Steelers already have a pair of great defensive tackles in Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton. Perhaps the franchise is preparing for a swan song from the soon-to-be 36-year-old Heyward, but this pick doesn’t fill an immediate need.
With no second-round pick following the trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf, the Steelers will struggle in their effort to find a starting-caliber quarterback in the draft.
