With so much attention dedicated to Aaron Rodgers (and understandably so) over the last week, it feels right to shift some focus to another big offseason Steelers addition: rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.

What will Derrick Harmon’s stat line look like in 2025?

I’ve been a big fan of the Oregon defensive lineman since the pre-draft process, but I’d caution against raising expectations too high. Harmon was a disruptor first and a productive player second at Oregon — the biggest knock on his scouting report was his repeated struggles to finish plays.

Still, he managed 45 total tackles, five sacks, and 11 tackles for loss in 2024 with the Ducks. He was playing on a talented defensive front in college — something that will be the case once again in Pittsburgh.

Harmon will be playing in a longer NFL season, but he’ll likely have a slightly lowered snap percentage given his lack of experience and the Steelers’ oft-used nickel package (two defensive linemen). As a result, I’d expect a similar number of tackles for Harmon from 2024 in college to 2025 in the NFL. However, the splash plays might drop a bit his rookie year given the bump in competition.

Ultimately, I expect Harmon’s impact to be seen more on film than on the stat sheet given his style of play, especially early on. He won’t be stealing a ton of sacks from T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Alex Highsmith, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up on the NFL’s all-rookie team at the end of the season.

Final stat prediction: 40 total tackles, three sacks, and seven tackles for loss.

What are your predictions for Derrick Harmon’s rookie year? Join the BTSC community and less us know in the comments below!