Derrick Harmon bio: Steelers’ first-round pick (21st overall) in 2025 NFL draft

Derrick Harmon

First-round pick, No. 21 overall

Defensive tackle, Oregon

6-foot-4, 313 pounds

Stats: 17 tackles for loss, 8 1/2 sacks in 42 career games (28 starts), including 45 overall tackles, 10 1/2 for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles this past season

Hometown: Detroit, Mich.

Mike Tomlin said Derrick Harmon “has Steeler DNA” pic.twitter.com/yeCL4OlMcd

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) April 25, 2025

Tidbits: Was a second-team AP All-American and third-team all-Big Ten last season. … Spent his first three college seasons at Michigan State but transferred and became a significant contributor to an Oregon team that entered the College Football Playoff as its No. 1 seed, undefeated and as Big Ten champions. … Pro Football Focus graded Harmon as the second-best pass rusher among the 229 defensive tackles who played the most snaps in college football last season. PFF additionally graded Harmon as the seventh-best defensive tackle from a power conference overall. … Per PFF, Harmon by far led the nation in pressures of opposing quarterbacks with 55. Only 11 other players — regardless of position — had more. … Is the first defensive lineman the Steelers have drafted in the first round since 2011. … Harmon is the first player drafted out of Oregon by the Steelers since tight end David Paulsen (seventh round) in 2012. The Steelers had never previously taken a player from Oregon in the first round. … He’s the 20th consecutive Steelers first-round pick to come from a power-conference program. … With six rounds to go in this draft, the Steelers have taken exactly one defensive tackle in each of the past eight drafts. … Was the fourth defensive tackle selected in this draft, following Mason Graham (No. 5 overall), Kenneth Grant (No. 13) and Walter Nolen (No. 16).

Derrick Harmon has a case for second best pass rusher in the class. Arsenal of moves. NFL size. Really long. Very athletic. Aware of where the QB is moving. Variety of alignments.

My DT1. Top 10 overall player. pic.twitter.com/Qe9GsYOnIh

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) April 15, 2025

NFL Draft Day 1:

• Steelers select Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in 1st round of NFL Draft
• What might the Steelers do on Day 2 of the draft?
• Tim Benz: Blissfully boring Steelers pick the right draft to play it straight with Derrick Harmon
• First Call: Mel Kiper rips Steelers for passing on Shedeur Sanders; Steelers tied to Kirk Cousins trade reports