When the defensive linemen took the field for testing drills at the 2025 NFL Combine, it was Shemar Stewart who stole the show. The Texas A&M edge rusher dropped jaws after posting a 4.59 40-yard dash at 6'5'' and 267 pounds while jumping 40'' on the vertical with a 10'11'' broad jump. This netted him a perfect Relative Athletic Score.
But Stewart won't be there for the Steelers and he doesn't come at the biggest positional need. Had Stewart not participated at the NFL Combine, the talk of the town would have surrounded Derrick Harmon. The Oregon defensive lineman put on a clinic on Day 1 of the Combine.
It began with his media sessions. The 20-year-old draft prospect said all the right things while assuring coaches and scouts he can play anything from 0-technique to 5-technique across the defensive line.
Then came the weigh-ins. We knew Harmon was big from watching him on tape, but he boasted prototype size metrics for a versatile defensive lineman who could wear multiple hats. Harmon measured in at 6'4' 1/2'' and 313 pounds with 34 3/8'' arms and 10 3/8'' hands.
The icing on the cake was his timed speed.
Though Harmon opted out of the jumps and agility tests, the big defensive lineman blazed a trail with a scorching 4.95 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. In comparison, Cameron Heyward ran a 4.92 back in 2011 before being selected in the first round by the Steelers. But Heyward's clocked time came when he was just 294 pounds.
Harmon also participated in on-field drills where he showcased his burst, explosion, and change-of-direction ability. He gave us everthing we wanted to see. Now we just have to hope he makes it to pick 21 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers must consider Derrick Harmon at pick 21 in the NFL Draft after stellar NFL Combine performance
Since the NFL merger, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been known for drafting and developing long, strong, and athletic defensive linemen. Back in 2020, Mike Tomlin's defensive line was on top of the world. Cameron Heyward was coming off his second All-Pro season and Stephon Tuitt had a career year that included 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, and 25 quarterback hits in 15 games.
Unfortunately, Tuitt suddenly retired after the 2020 season—playing his final NFL snaps at just 27 years old. Since then, Heyward has been a one-man show on the interior defensive line. Now the long-time defensive tackle is about to turn 36 years old and is at the tail end of his career.
Derrick Harmon is just what the doctor ordered for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ironically, Harmon has been compared to Tuitt, thanks to his long, powerful frame and impressive movement skills. Outside of Keenau Benton—a 2023 second-round pick who has flashed promise—the Steelers have nobody to build around on the interior defensive line. Harmon would change that in a hurry.
Derrick Harmon is really, really, really good.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) February 17, 2025
That's a plus starter at 5-technique on day one that can also play 3-tech on passing downs. He might be my pick for this year's annual Stephon Tuitt comp.
Harmon's outstanding NFL Combine performance only confirms what we already assumed—this is a rare athlete for a big man. Harmon's timed speed and movement skills at the Combine match what we see on his tape at Oregon.
While some would argue that the Steelers, who averaged 14 points per game over the final five contests of 2024 (including the playoffs), can't afford to spend another first-round pick on defense. However, there's a good chance Harmon is the best player on the board when Pittsburgh is on the clock, and he comes at a big positional need.
It's easy to see where Harmon could fit with the Steelers. Much like Heyward and Tuitt before him, Harmon could be a base 3-4 defensive end (who lines up at 4i and 5-tech) on early downs before kicking inside as either a 1-tech or 3-tech on passing downs. There's no limit to his versatility.
Even before his dominant performance at the NFL Combine, Harmon was flying up draft boards. According to Marcus Mosher's latest NFL Draft Expert Consensus Rankings, Harmon shot up to the 19th overall player in the 2025 draft. He's only going to move higher after his showing in Indianapolis.
If Derrick Harmon is available for the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there should be no hesitation. This is exactly the type of defensive lineman this team has been searching for since the retirement of Stephon Tuitt, and now that they found him, they can't let him get past their first-round pick (if he makes it this far).