The Pittsburgh Steelers made their selection at No. 21 and opted to pass on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Instead, they brought in Oregon Ducks' defensive lineman Derrick Harmon.
Harmon, who has been one of the best defensive lineman in the draft throughout the entire pre-draft process, will help make the Steelers' defense a strength once again.
Following Pittsburgh's decision to draft Harmon, a heartbreaking story has come out.
According to Mark Kaboly, an insider covering the Steelers, Harmon said that his mother is on life support in the hospital. He is headed over to to visit her and tell her that her son was drafted by Pittsburgh.
During the 2024 college football season with the Ducks, Harmon played in 14 games. He racked up 45 total tackles to go along with 11 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four defended passes.
Athlon Sports expert Luke Easterling has unveiled his immediate reaction to the Steelers' decision to draft Harmon. He gave the pick an "A-," signaling just how good of a selection it was for Pittsburgh.
In addition, he also provided his analysis of the pick.
"Everyone expected Shedeur Sanders here, and with good reason. That said, this has always been one of my favorite player/team fits throughout the entire draft process this year, and it's such a fantastic match," he wrote.
"Harmon's size and skill set makes him the perfect understudy for aging veteran Cam Heyward, and his high-effort, physical style of play makes him a perfect fit in Pittsburgh. He's a versatile weapon in the defensive trenches who can line up all over the place, and brings big-play ability as both a run-stuffer and an interior pass rusher. This is a solid match of need and value, and while they may regret passing on a potential franchise quarterback in Sanders, Harmon makes so much sense."
While the Steelers still do not have an ideal starting quarterback, Harmon was a big win for the team and will be an integral piece of the defense for years to come.
