Armed with simply two alternatives within the first two days, it’s no shock to see the Pittsburgh Steelers not make an enormous presence on NFL.com’s current projected 2025 All-Rookie Crew. To have even one title on the checklist is notable, and first-round defensive lineman makes writer Gennaro Filice’s group properly conscious of the thrill on Harmon coming from the spring.
“Sometimes, that is the time of yr when NOTHING is assured. Coaches consistently stress that rookies — irrespective of how extremely they’re drafted — should earn their hold earlier than even considering about filling a beginning slot. Apparently, although, the Steelers aren’t doing that complete music and dance with Harmon.”
Filice refers to DL Coach Karl Dunbar’s feedback anointing Harmon the starter. At the same time as Mike Tomlin tried to downplay these phrases, it’s clear Pittsburgh isn’t holding again their high rookie. Considered as a top-ten expertise who slid to No. 20 because of reported harm issues, Harmon is a perfect scheme match for the Steelers’ 3-4 system. Pittsburgh centered its draft picks on build up a entrance seven that wore down by season’s finish, spending two of the group’s seven selections on the line of defense and one other on exterior linebacker Jack Sawyer.
Whereas Harmon will possible rotate in behind Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton, he’s poised to start out at left defensive finish within the Steelers’ base entrance. With Heyward being 36 years previous and the group decreasing his snap rely, Harmon may have loads of reps to make an impression.
Regardless of a deep defensive sort out class that noticed a number of names taken within the first spherical, Harmon and Cleveland Browns DT Mason Graham had been the 2 who made Filice’s checklist. Harmon beat out the Arizona Cardinals’ Walter Nolen and the Miami Dolphins’ Kenneth Grant.
Harmon is the primary Steelers’ rookie defensive lineman drafted within the first spherical because the group chosen Heyward in 2011.
No different Steelers made the checklist. RB Kaleb Johnson was the one different to have a semi-realistic probability however predictably misplaced out to the Las Vegas Raiders’ Ashton Jeanty and Denver Broncos’ RJ Harvey. Different notable names on the checklist embody Tennessee Titans’ QB Cam Ward, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ OT Josh Simmons, and Atlanta Falcons’ S Xavier Watts. Each AFC North group had a minimum of one choice: S Malaki Starks for the Baltimore Ravens, LB Demetrius Knight Jr. for the Cincinnati Bengals, LB Carson Schwesinger and Graham for the Browns, and Harmon for the Steelers.
