Steelers Now
UNITY TWP, Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward wants to pass the torch to rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, just like how Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel did for him.
“I’m responsible for that young man. I was brought in this league by guys taking care of me,” Heyward said during a recent interview on NFL Network ‘s Inside Training Camp Live. “And so, when I step on that field and I get a chance to talk to ’em, there’s not holding any secrets. I want ’em to be successful. I want ’em to have good technique, and then just apply on it as the years keep coming.”
Harmon has turned heads at training camp. The Steelers could have a rising star.
Harmon has looked quick, physical and strong. He’s made plays in the backfield, pressured the quarterback, dominated offensive linemen with his physicality, and generally been the best Steelers defensive lineman on the field, outside of Heyward.
According to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, everyone he’s talked to in Latrobe has gushed about the play of No. 99 so far. It’s a long way to go, but optimism is rising that the Steelers’ first-round pick could have a very strong rookie season.
Harmon is trying to get two things honed in before the regular season starts.
“Really just get down down this speed of the game, ’cause this is a whole [another] speed.'” Harmon told reporters on Sunday. “And then really just hone in on this defense in my playbook. I’m in my playbook every night, so just really trying hone in on those key things.”
ESPN analytics analyst Seth Walder predicted that Harmon will win the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The expectations are very high for the Detroit native.
“I don’t do a lot of prospect evaluating, but I do look at pass rushing and have created a sack-rate forecast model that predicts sacks numbers for the first few seasons of a player’s career. It uses data – taking into account things like their college pressure and pass rush win-rates, quality of school they went to and played against, combine information,” Walder said, via Steelers Takeaways. “Harmon graded strongly – he was sixth in his class. As a defensive tackle, getting sacks is more impressive than someone who gets the same number of sacks as an edge rusher, and the DROY awards pass rushers, mostly. And playing next to [Cameron] Heyward, [T.J.] Watt, [Nick] Herbig and [Alex] Highsmith should give him some good chances to get sacks.”
Many believe Harmon would have been a top 10 pick if it weren’t for injury concerns surrounding his shoulder. His MRI at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine pushed him down draft boards as it showed a partially torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum.
However, he has dismissed any worries regarding the issue since.
“Nothing’s wrong with my shoulder,” Harmon said. “I’m 100 percent healthy, ready to go.”
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