The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted defensive tackle Derrick Harmon out of Oregon. Rumours increased as the draft approached, and many expected a quarterback. Here are the top four things this pick says about the team.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was still on the board when Pittsburgh went on the clock with the 21st pick. Things got interesting as Sanders fell down the board. Most mock drafts had Sanders going earlier, and the team was trying to decide whether to reach for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart or fill another need.
The Steelers imply that Sanders is not worth the hype. Even if the franchise likes him, they do not have a second-round pick, so they don’t mind the risk of losing him. Pittsburgh was not the only franchise rumoured in the Sanders sweepstakes, with all the earlier teams passing.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph is QB1 as the team is in discussions with Aaron Rodgers. Fans tried to project their anxiousness around their quarterback room onto management, who said none of the available options were worth a first-round pick. Not only is head coach Mike Tomlin comfortable waiting on Rodgers, but he is also ok starting Rudolph.
Per Fox Sports, when asked about it at an annual league meeting, Tomlin said, “That’s why we brought him back. I’m comfortable with that. And we’ve been there before.” Rudolph was 3-1 for the Steelers in 2023, with the loss happening in a wild-card game against the Bills. The team has more hope in his experience than what any of the available quarters may turn out to be.”
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward is a fan favourite. He went in the first round of the 2011 draft. The team needed depth at the position and added to it with an eye on the future. Harmon was a good decision by the team.
In the short term, Harmon will soak in all of the knowledge the veteran tackle has to offer. Expected to start alongside each other, the rookie aims to make an immediate impact. Heyward is on the back nine of his career, and the first-round pick has the potential to be his successor.
Pittsburgh has been acting out of character recently. From reaching for quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to letting Rodgers seemingly call the shots, fans are unfamiliar with decisions like these. It’s time to bolster the steel curtain.
The Steelers are not known to reach early for a quarterback or receiver, and they stayed true to that this year. Compared to the available quarterbacks, the team expects Harmon to have a greater impact. Pittsburgh is destined to start Rodgers or Rudolph for the 2025-26 season.
End Of My Rant On The Steelers
While they still need a quarterback, it’s nice to see them not acting out of desperation. The options have dwindled as the season approaches, and they certainly don’t have a long-term option in mind. Without their second-round pick, it will be interesting to see where they go in the draft from here.
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