The Pittsburgh Steelers made a clear emphasis on upgrading the defensive line this offseason, while also injecting some youth into the unit. This was made obvious when the franchise used its first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Derrick Harmon, and then went and got Yahya Black later on in the event. Pittsburgh needed some help defending against the run, and it was time for the organization to start thinking about potential replacements for perennial All-Pro Cam Heyward, who will be 36 years old as he enters the 2025 season.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon on the bench during his time with Oregon in 2024.
It would be putting a ton of pressure on the young rookie if the entire fan base was looking for him to be the next version of Heyward, but the expectations are high for Harmon entering his rookie season. He was a great player in college, and high expectations come with the territory of being a first-round pick in the NFL. Heyward was asked on the most recent episode of Not Just Football With Cam Heyward about which rookie is going to make the biggest impact for Pittsburgh during the 2025 season, and he spoke highly about Harmon.
"I have a lot of respect and I'm excited to see where he takes off," Heyward said of Harmon. "He's going to get a chance to play early. I think he's going to have an immediate impact. He plays with good hands, he's able to transition from run to pass a lot faster. And I think having a good coach like Karl Dunbar is going to put him in a good situation."
Harmon is entering a great situation in Pittsburgh, and he should be set up with a decent amount of opportunities to start off his career. Some members of the coaching staff have already said he will be starting to begin the year, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin did not go that far when discussing his rookie earlier this offseason.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin looks on during a snowy game in Cleveland during the 2024 NFL season.
The Steelers usually hold off on inserting their rookies into the starting lineup, but Harmon seemed to have impressed heavily earlier in the summer. He is a unique interior defensive lineman as he is able to affect both the run game and the pass game in major ways. He had 55 pressures during his lone season at Oregon, and his large frame allows him to eat up gaps when playing the run.
He will be playing alongside some elite talent in Pittsburgh on the defensive side, and the players around him will only help him excel. He has a good group of inside linebackers playing the run behind him, and he should be able to collapse any pocket while he is rushing with Heyward, TJ Watt, and Alex Highsmith. The expectations might be high for Harmon, but it is for good reason. He has all the tools to succeed, and if he starts at the beginning of his rookie year, he has the chance to be special as the year moves along.
Steelers' Derrick Harmon Should Be A Serious Contender For The NFL's Defensive Rookie Of The Year
Pittsburgh's defense has the chance to be the best in the league during the 2024 season, and Harmon would be a big reason for that. If he can be an asset in stopping the run while also putting up some production when it comes to getting to the quarterback, he has a real chance to make a run at the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. It is harder for an interior defensive lineman to get recognition for this kind of award, but he should be considered one of the favorites to win it.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon (99) and Yahya Black (78) during rookie minicamp in 2025.
The Steelers' defense didn't live up to its standards in 2024 down the stretch, and the fan base will be hoping that changes in 2025. There are a lot of new faces on that side of the ball, and it will have to be the unit that carries this team to a successful season.
What do you think of Heyward's remarks about Harmon? Let us know in the comments below!
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