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The BTSC staff grades for the Steelers’ first-round pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After a lot of discussion and speculation about potentially taking Shedeur Sanders, Pittsburgh opted to build the trenches and get a versatile defensive lineman. Here is how our staff felt about the pick:
While many saw Shedeur falling to 21 as a god send for the Steelers, Omar Khan and Pittsburgh brass made the right call. Despite Cam Heyward coming off a great season, he is gaining age. Now, with Harmon and Keeanu Benton getting to play behind him for a few years, the Steelers will have a strong defense for years to come. With a handful of good quarterbacks remaining in the draft and free agency, solving the quarterback room can be a discussion for another day. Grade: A – Alex Hanczar
There’s not much to dislike about the selection of Harmon, who led all of college football in quarterback pressures last season. He’s a versatile 3-tech who will replace Larry Ogunjobi in the starting front three. He has a high motor and outstanding character. And he will get the chance to learn from his new mentor, Cam Heyward – and someday follow in his legendary footsteps. Grade: A- – Mike Nicastro
All of the fussing and fretting about taking a QB and the Steelers took the guy many of us in the BTSC community had all along.You couldn’t build a better Cam Heyward protege in a lab. Ecstatic about this pick. Grade: A – Ryan Parish
Harmon fills a position of need and was arguably the best player available. He’s a well-rounded defensive tackle who fits perfectly into the Steelers’ scheme – he’ll contribute right away and can continue to develop under the tutelage of Cam Heyward. Harmon needs to work on finishing plays but he’s one of the top disruptors in this year’s draft. Draft a Day 3 nose tackle and Pittsburgh’s defensive line is in excellent shape. Grade: A+ – Ryland Bickley
It looks like the interest in Shedeur Sanders was a smokescreen more than anything. The Steelers get an incredibly versatile playmaker on the defensive line who can help them win both in the present and the future. Harmon led all defensive tackles in 2024 with 34 pressures, so the pass-rush dynamic combined with his run-stopping prowess makes him a potential star. Grade: A – Jarrett Bailey