Steelers Already Name Rookie a Starter: ‘He's Really Wired In'
The Pittsburgh Steelers have already named one of their rookies a starter for the 2025 NFL season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, but the team has already named one of its rookies a starter.
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Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar revealed rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon is already running with the first-team defense.
'He goes out there with the ones,' Dunbar said. 'He's our left starting defensive tackle. You can write that.'
Harmon, 21, was Pittsburgh's first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft after wreaking havoc in opposing backfields for the Oregon Ducks.
In 2024, the 6-foot-4 1/2, 313-pound defensive tackle recorded 45 tackles, five sacks and a pair of forced and recovered fumbles.
Oregon Ducks defensive end Jordan Burch (1), defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell, behind, and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (55) celebrate a sack during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)
Harmon is likely being relied upon to take the place of veteran Larry Ogunjobi, who was released in March. And the Steelers are already seeing what they hoped to from the rookie at the beginning stages of the offseason program.
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'You can tell whether or not they're in shape, and I think he's done a good job of bringing himself into camp in some kind of shape,' Dunbar said. 'I think he's really wired in.'
At this point, the only major concern with Harmon seems to be centered around his shoulder. A MRI at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine showed a partially torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum.
However, general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin dismissed any worries regarding the issue.
'We wouldn't have picked him unless our medical staff was comfortable with it,' Khan said.
Harmon reiterated a similar sentiment, too.
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'I don't know man, I'm fully healthy ready to go,' he said. 'I don't have no concerns. I'm ready to get to work.'
In his three seasons of college football, Harmon did not miss a single game due to injury. He played 38 games.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Already Name Rookie a Starter: 'He's Really Wired In'
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