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Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — Regardless of quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart nonetheless being accessible, the Pittsburgh Steelers eschewed the place all collectively and chosen Oregon defensive sort out Derrick Harmon with the No. 21 general decide Thursday evening on the NFL draft.
Steelers normal supervisor Omar Khan stated the group wasn’t tempted to draft a signal-caller with the decide.
“We were on the clock,” he stated Thursday evening. “We got the player that we wanted.”
Harmon was one in all a handful of gamers the Steelers recognized as one they wouldn’t commerce away from if he was accessible. Khan stated the Steelers fielded a number of commerce affords, however they held on firmly to the decide.
“He has Steeler DNA for us,” coach Mike Tomlin stated. “It starts inside and upfront, and this is a guy that’s capable of dominating that space versus the run and the pass, and so we’re really excited about having him. … We weren’t interested in considering trading away from him and really excited about getting him in here and getting started.”
The Steelers entered the primary spherical of the draft decided to not let Aaron Rodgers‘ impending — but extended — determination about his future have an effect on their draft technique.
And in deciding on Harmon with solely two quarterbacks underneath contract, the Steelers seemingly signaled their continued confidence that Rodgers will ultimately land in Pittsburgh.
Earlier this week, Tomlin acknowledged the end result of the draft might have an effect on their pursuit of outdoor quarterbacks, together with Rodgers.
“What you do in the draft oftentimes affects maybe some talent acquisition that happens after,” he stated in Tuesday’s predraft information convention. “We’ll see how the acquisition goes this weekend.”
Harmon, who spent his first three seasons at Michigan State, is a right away youth infusion to an getting older Steelers line of defense anchored by longtime captain Cameron Heyward. Heyward, who turns 36 subsequent month, advocated for his staff to choose Harmon on an Instagram Reside feed earlier than the choice. And the appreciation is mutual. Harmon stated he fashions his recreation after Heyward.
“That was my first thought process when I got the call, was I’m going to be able to pick Cam’s brain, be under his wing,” Harmon stated. “That could be my vet now, and I can really learn from him. He’s been doing this forever, since I was a baby, so it wouldn’t be no other way I’d want it, really.”
Harmon was one in all 9 defensive linemen hosted by the Steelers throughout their top-30 predraft visits. Although rumors of a shoulder difficulty swirled earlier than the draft, Harmon was evaluated by the Steelers’ medical workers on his go to. Khan and Tomlin stated they had been “extremely comfortable” with Harmon’s well being.
“I’m fully up, ready to go,” Harmon stated of his shoulder. “I don’t have [any] concerns. I’m ready to get to work.”
Harmon recorded 5 sacks in his lone season with the Geese and exploded for 11 tackles for loss. He additionally led the FBS in 2024 with 34 quarterback pressures when lined up as a defensive sort out, and his 10.7% stress fee as a defensive sort out was second finest in FBS.
“Extreme urgency,” Tomlin stated, describing the extent of urgency in addressing the line of defense. “To be quite honest with you, there’s no substitute for young talent. You don’t have a chance to fill a quality defense unless you’re stout inside and up front. This is a young guy, man, that has an opportunity to learn from the likes of Cam Heyward and put his hand in that pile and be a significant contributor for us for years to come.”
