There is always pressure on a first-round pick to perform as a rookie. Pittsburgh Steelers DL Derrick Harmon was no different in 2025. He only played in 12 games due to knee injuries, but when he was on the field, he made his presence known. He rushed the quarterback 283 times in 2025, and he finished the year with three sacks and 22 total pressures.
That’s after leading the FBS in pressures for an interior defensive lineman in 2024 at Oregon. However, analyst Sam Monson believes Derrick Harmon can find another level in 2026. That’s why he tabbed Harmon as his Steelers breakout player on Check The Mic.
“I think you can argue that he’s already pretty good,” Monson said. “But I do think Harmon could be a real impact playmaker for that defensive line. I kind of expect the entire defensive line to be better this year than it was a year ago and Derrick Harmon could be in line for a jump.”
Monson isn’t the only one who thinks Derrick Harmon is in line for a big 2026 season. New Steelers defensive line coach Domata Peko has spoken glowingly about Harmon and sees a way for him to improve as a pass rusher. If he can get even better at getting after the quarterback, that would mean good things for both him and the Steelers’ defense.
Peko talked about how the coaches can help Harmon develop a better get-off at the snap by working on his stance. Another way Harmon could be in for a better year is simply by having a full NFL offseason, rather than prepping for the NFL Combine and his Pro Day.
When incoming rookies are getting ready for the Combine, they’re focused on how to best perform for Combine-specific drills and testing. That’s completely different from prepping for an NFL season. Harmon said after the end of his rookie season that he looked forward to a full offseason and that he was “going to attack it.”
If Derrick Harmon has attacked this offseason like he did opposing quarterbacks in his final year of college football, he could just be that breakout player Monson thinks he could be in 2026.
As for Monson’s co-host, Steve Palazzolo, he tabbed S Jaquan Brisker as his breakout Steelers player, expressing confusion as to why he wasn’t more sought after as a free agent before signing with Pittsburgh.
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