Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Derrick Harmon, Pittsburgh Steelers DT.
After every season, every team in the NFL plays the game of could’ve, would’ve, should’ve — especially if they’re not holding the Lombardi Trophy at the end of it. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season ended, unfortunately, with a quick Wild Card Round exit.
Pittsburgh hasn’t been able to boast about a Super Bowl title since 2009. So, those lingering questions have followed the franchise for the past 16 years.
While there are a number of things the Steelers could have done differently, some of that conversation begins with the 2025 NFL Draft and their first-round selection of defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
CBS Sports called Harmon’s rookie season “unnoteworthy.” He began the year sidelined for two games after suffering an MCL sprain in late August.
“The 2025 first-round pick then hit the ground running, securing seven total takedowns, including 2.0 sacks, over his first three games. Harmon then became somewhat of a background character on the Steelers’ defense for the rest of the regular season, ultimately missing three more contests with a separate knee injury in late November and early December.”
Despite a rather lackluster season overall, Harmon did have a solid outing in the Steelers’ 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans, tallying six tackles and one sack.
Still, CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer would have had Pittsburgh go in a different direction in his latest 2025 redraft.
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Brockermeyer has the Steelers taking a somewhat familiar type of player at No. 21 in his redraft: LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell.
“Will Campbell had a rough end to the year, but it’s all technique-based and was hidden somewhat by Jayden Daniels’ athleticism at LSU. He’s wired the right way and will rebound if he’s willing to get some outside coaching and tweak his techniques,” Brockermeyer wrote.
Campbell was originally selected No. 4 overall by the New England Patriots. However, his struggles protecting quarterback Drake Maye were put on notice during Super Bowl LX.
Campbell finished with an overall offensive grade of 38.2 in the Super Bowl, according to Pro Football Focus — his second-worst grade of the season behind the Patriots’ Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans.
Across the Patriots’ final three playoff games, Campbell averaged a 36.6 pass-blocking grade, allowing three sacks, two quarterback hits, six hurries and 14 pressures. Eight of those pressures came against the Seattle Seahawks.
Had Pittsburgh selected Campbell, he would have been the third straight offensive lineman taken by the Steelers in the first round over the last three years, joining Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu.
The Steelers ranked 22nd in sacks allowed in 2025 with 31.
Derrick Harmon Still Lands in First Round With NFC Team
In Brockermeyer’s redraft, Harmon remains a first-round selection — just later. He has the Detroit Lions taking him at No. 28 overall.
The Lions’ original pick was Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.
Williams appeared in all 17 games, starting 10 of them. He recorded four pass deflections, one sack, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.