Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham following a 2024 game. Maize and Blue Nation
As a rookie, Derrick Harmon helped reinforce the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive front. If the 2025 NFL Draft was done over, however, ESPN believes the Steelers would have chosen somebody else in the first round.
After the Cleveland Browns passed on Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 2 overall choice — they didn’t trade down in this revision — the Steelers plucked him at No. 21.
“It’s a toss-up between Harmon and Graham because fortifying the defensive line is still the best use of the Steelers’ pick,” Brooke Pryor wrote. “Though Harmon made a noticeable difference when healthy, Graham, a PFWA All-Rookie team selection, would have been a slight upgrade after starting 17 games for the Browns. He had seven tackles for loss and 49 total tackles this season.”
Derrick Harmon, who the Steelers took with their first-round pick, slid to the second round and was taken No. 56 overall by the Buffalo Bills.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Derrick Harmon lines up against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 16, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Steelers mainstay Cam Heyward showered Harmon with praise before they took on the Baltimore Ravens in a do-or-die Week 18 clash this past season. Harmon played in 12 games, starting eight, and racked up 27 total tackles and three sacks.
“Derrick’s definitely ahead of the game,” Heyward said. “He plays with strong hands, understands the playbook a lot better than a lot of rookies, and I just think he’s got a good feel for the game this early on. It definitely helps having him out there. It makes our rotation a lot bigger and he can disrupt a lot of the game, too.”
Mentioned In This Article: Derrick Harmon Mason Graham Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers