Pittsburgh Steelers Pass On Shedeur Sanders, Select DT Derrick Harmon

Entering the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the favorites to select QB Shedeur Sanders.

At pick 21, Shedeur Sanders was available for the Steelers to select.

Instead, they passed on him and selected DT Derrick Harmon.

Not only did the Steelers pass on Sanders, but so did every other team that had a first-round draft pick.

As the first round was approaching, there was more and more chatter about Sanders not being selected in the first round.

“I’ve been told that I should not be surprised if Shedeur Sanders drops out of the first round.”@AKinkhabwala pic.twitter.com/0GzyYf9GM6

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 24, 2025

Despite some talk of the Steelers selecting Sanders, they chose to build the defensive line by taking Derrick Harmon.

Pittsburgh Steelers Select DT Derrick Harmon

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac has been saying for a while that the Steelers should and will select a defensive lineman in round one. He turned out to be correct.

Derrick Harmon is what the Steelers need. A big defensive lineman who can stop the run and free up pass rushers.

Harmon is 6’4 ½” and weighs 313 lbs. In 2024, he was a second-team Associated Press All-American. A third-team All-Big Ten Conference. Harmon tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles. Played in all 14 games and started 13 of them.

Here are some pros of Derrick Harmon:

• Exceptional blend of size, length, and strength makes him tough to move
• Versatility to play up and down the line in odd or even fronts
• Creates rush momentum to roll downhill once he hits an edge
• Uses arm-over or rip move to penetrate the gap
• Capable as a block collector to keep his linebacker clean
• Punch is quick, powerful, and efficient to stall the block
• Twitchy upper body to peek-a-boo the block and shed to runner’s lane choice

Before the NFL Draft, an NFC executive compared Harmon to Cam Heyward. The full quote said, “He plays like a Raven or a Steeler. Off the tape, he reminds me of a young Cam Heyward but bigger.”

Steelers Still Do Not Have A Starting QB

While they passed on Shedeur Sanders in round one, the Steelers do not have a starting quarterback on the roster. The only QB on the roster currently is Mason Rudolph. Skylar Thompson is currently the backup to Rudolph.

Pittsburgh also does not have a second-round pick after trading it for WR DK Metcalf.

While they continue to hope Aaron Rodgers signs, Jalen Milroe is still an option in the 2025 NFL Draft if the Steelers can somehow manage to get him.

It will be challenging for the Steelers to get either Sanders or Milroe without a second-round pick.

One way to get a second-rounder is if a team is willing to trade their second-round pick for WR George Pickens.

The Dallas Cowboys need a WR2 and would be a team that could do it.

Otherwise, if the Steelers do not get back in the second round, it seems unlikely they will be able to draft either Sanders or Milroe, unless one slips to the third round.

Derrick Harmon was the smart choice for the Steelers in round one, but now they need to start looking at options for who will be under center in week one, unless they are content with starting Mason Rudolph.