![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/gridironheroics.com\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25529951_168400517_lowres-900x600.jpg.webp\")
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The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0have been known in the past for having elite defensive lineman. They may have found a gem when they selected defensive tackle\u00a0Derrick Harmon\u00a0from the\u00a0Oregon Ducks\u00a0with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n Harmon is line to potentially be one of the starting defensive lineman with the Steelers along with Cameron Heyward and Keeanu Benton. Pittsburgh coaches are raving about the rookie defensive lineman.<\/p>\n The Steelers\u2019 coaching staff is impressed with what Harmon has done so far this offseason. Pittsburgh was wondering if he was going to be a starting heading into the 2025 NFL season or if he was going to have to earn his stripes in that regard.\u00a0Brooke Pryor of espn.com said,<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not often the Steelers tap a rookie to be a starter in June, but that\u2019s exactly what defensive line coach Karl Dunbar did. \u201cHe goes out there with the 1s,\u201d Dunbar said. \u201cHe\u2019s our left starting defensive tackle. You can write that.\u201d Then again, Pittsburgh doesn\u2019t often use its base 3-4 defense that would put Harmon on the field as a starter alongside\u00a0Cameron Heyward\u00a0and\u00a0Keeanu Benton. Still, Dunbar identifying him as a starter signals that the Steelers have been impressed with their first-round pick.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel, like, comfortable,\u201d Harmon said of the defense. \u201c[At] Oregon, we had the same defense, so I\u2019m playing the same-for-same position. Biggest difference for me is really just learning the speed of the game.\u201d\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n With Oregon and Pittsburgh playing a 3-4 defensive scheme, it will be easy for Harmon to grasp it. It was not a surprise to see the Steelers draft a defensive line in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, despite needing to draft a quarterback in that situation. Harmon is going to be a building block of the Steelers defense moving forward, especially if T.J. Watt doesn\u2019t sign a contract extension with them.<\/p>\n Harmon helped the Ducks defense be successful during the 2024 college football season. They were 13-0, before they lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the playoffs. The Steelers finished with a 10-7 record in 2024, and Harmon will look to anchor this Steelers defense for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0have been known in the past for having elite defensive lineman. They may have found a gem when they selected defensive tackle\u00a0Derrick Harmon\u00a0from the\u00a0Oregon Ducks\u00a0with the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":58760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"USATSI](\"https:\/\/gridironheroics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25531028_168400517_lowres-900x600.jpg\" "\\"\"Steelers")
Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Raves About Rookie Derrick Harmon Entering the 2025 NFL Season<\/h2>\n
![\"USATSI](\"https:\/\/gridironheroics.com\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25301642_168400517_lowres-900x600.jpg.webp\" "\\"\"Steelers")