Steve Palazzolo of The 33rd Team described Derrick Harmon's first NFL year as okay but said the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman underwhelmed slightly compared to expectations.
Harmon, selected 21st overall by the Steelers in the 2025 draft, recorded three sacks, 27 tackles and one tackle for loss in 12 games. Palazzolo noted 23 total pressures on 304 pass rushes and pointed to concerns in the run game and pass rush effectiveness.
Injuries limited Harmon's availability. He missed the first two regular season games with an MCL sprain after a preseason cart-off against Carolina and sat out Weeks 13 through 15 with another knee issue.
Palazzolo said on his Check The Mic podcast that Harmon and teammate Mason Graham were both a little below what was anticipated. He added that more will be asked of Harmon in 2026, when staying healthy becomes the top priority.
