Training camp started just last week, and Pittsburgh Steelers camp has already been the most compelling so far, thanks to a crazy offseason and all the big storylines coming from it. While the spotlight is mostly on the new veterans who have joined the team, there is a rookie whose flashes on the field right from the start have raised the excitement for what he could bring this season.
This player, a recent 2025 top draft pick, is not getting nearly enough recognition for how well he performed in his first week of practice. He is already turning heads and looks like he could be another excellent find for Omar Khan and the Steelers.
Derrick Harmon is showing exactly why the Steelers couldn’t wait to draft him
The biggest question for the Steelers going into the draft was whether they would select a quarterback in the first round. Shedeur Sanders was the most talked-about name rumored to be their pick, but it quickly became clear during the pre-draft process that they had a strong interest in Derrick Harmon.
Defensive line was a key position of need with Cameron Heyward nearing the end of his career, and after their wild card loss, the front office’s top priority was to improve the defensive line and stop the run.
Harmon’s draft stock was all over the place, with mock drafts projecting him anywhere from a top 15 pick to a late first-round or early second-round selection. In the end, Harmon slid right into Pittsburgh’s lap after some teams raised injury concerns. At the NFL Combine, he was medically flagged for a possible shoulder injury. Since then, Harmon has said he is fully healthy, and the situation worked out in the Steelers’ favor, landing the player they wanted all along.
One week into his first NFL training camp, Harmon has already shown why the Steelers were confident enough to label him a starter during OTAs. In the first few days of practice, he has made key plays, blowing up a run and batting down a pass.
Once the pads come on this week, things will get much more interesting as we get to see what it’s really like in a full-contact setting instead of just shorts and helmets. Hopefully, we continue to see more big plays and get a clear preview of what Harmon and this defensive line will look like in week one.