If you were wondering what the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for in a defensive lineman, look no further. On Wednesday, two days before the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan spoke to the media, and quite frankly, they said too much.
Throughout the pre-draft process, Steelers fans have had their eyes on a trio of interior defenders: Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen, and Kenneth Grant. But based on Khan's revealing comments, it's clear that Pittsburgh has its sights set on just one of these players.
During his pre-draft press conference, Tomlin was asked about potentially finding a nose tackle, and his response said it all.
"I think the nose [tackle] is a disappearing animal, the way that the fullback is a disappearing animal in our game," Tomlin said.
The head coach's response left no room for doubt: this team doesn't value the nose tackle position as it once did. This suggests there's zero urgency to find the next Casey Hampton—a two-down player who the Steelers could plug in with the sole purpose of defending the run.
Just minutes before Tomlin gave this response, the Steelers' head coach spoke on what he values in a defensive lineman in today's NFL.
"[Defensive linemen] come in many different shapes and sizes, and I just think that's a component of it," Tomlin said. "Some guys are power players who happen to be athletic, if you're talking bout elite interior defensive linemen. Some guys are oversized athletes, and it's the same in Sunday ball... Oftentimes, that means they get the job done in different ways, but the job gets done."
The collection of Tomlin's comments during the presser points to one player on the Steelers' draft radar: Oregon Ducks defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are poised to select Derrick Harmon in the 2025 NFL Draft
Derrick Harmon checks all of the boxes this team looks for in an interior defensive lineman, and the team's interest in Harmon couldn't be clearer as we approach the NFL Draft. Mike Tomlin's statements only confirm what we already expected: that Harmon's name is at the top of the list of potential first-round candidates.
At 6'4' 1/2'' and 313 pounds with long arms, explosive athletic traits, and youth (21 years old), Harmon checks all of the boxes to be the first-round pick of the Steelers, he he falls to pick 21. Tomlin hinted that he values versatility, and Harmon can play anywhere along the interior defensive line.
This isn't the case for a player like Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Grant is only an average athlete, and the 330-pound prospect projects as a nose tackle at the next level. Likewise, Tomlin's comments could rule out Walter Nolen. Despite his impressive strength, Nolen doesn't have the size profile the Steelers desire to play anywhere along the defensive line. Nolen measured in at the NFL Combine at 6'3 3/4'' and 296 pounds with just 32 1/2'' arms and a 78 5/8'' wingspan.
It's noteworthy that Tomlin and Khan did not attend the Pro Days of Nolen or Grant (there was a scheduling conflict on Michigan's Pro Day that's worth noting, as Aaron Rodgers was in town). However, the fact that neither player earned a top-30 pre-draft visit fits with the comments that Tomlin just made about what they are looking for at the position.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers end up going with a defensive lineman in Round 1—and the breadcrumbs appear to be leading us here—you can bet that Derrick Harmon will be their top target if he's still on the board. Let's hope opposing teams don't catch wind that Mike Tomlin may have just revealed the Steelers' first-round plans.