2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Derrick Harmon

Harmon only ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but his 4.95 time is extremely impressive for his size. Although he has not completed enough athletic testing to qualify for a relative athletic score, it is worth checking back in on after his pro day.

Background:

Coming out of high school in Detroit, Michigan, Derrick Harmon was a three-star recruit and the country's #98 defensive lineman. After high school, he held offers from only a handful of Power 5 programs, including Purdue and Ole Miss, before committing to Michigan State.

After redshirting his first year, Harmon played in 28 games for the Spartans in 2022 and 2023, including 15 starts. However, he only recorded 3.5 sacks in that time, partially due to his additional mass. At Michigan State, Harmon was a space-eating nose tackle who weighed over 350 pounds. When he transferred to Oregon, Harmon changed his diet, frame, and role while dropping his weight to 305 pounds.

Harmon played and started in 14 games at Oregon in 2024, earning second-team All-Big 10 recognition. According to PFF, Harmon generated 55 pressures and five sacks across 346 pass-rushing snaps in 2024. He totaled 20 pressures and one sack with Michigan State the prior season on 232 pass-rushing snaps.

Amongst 350 FBS defensive tackles to play at least 300 snaps in 2024, Harmon had the 12th-best overall PFF grade, the 39th-best run-defense grade, and the 3rd-best pass-rushing grade. In true pass sets, he recorded the 3rd best pass rush grade with a pass rush win rate of 26.9%, which ranks 5th.

Strengths:

• Physical Traits: Wide, long, and powerful frame with multiple pass rush moves and explosive athleticism;
• Versatility: Harmon is a versatile defensive lineman who lined up all over Oregon's multiple fronts. He will fit into any NFL defensive scheme.
• Pass Rush Plan: Harmon has quick hands that work efficiently and clearly understand how to deconstruct blocks.
• Taking Control: Harmon often controls pass reps from start to finish with his length, hand placement, and upper body strength.
• Absorbs Power: Harmon patiently absorbs power and reads out the blocking concepts.
• Run Defense: He can defend the run from various alignments and has the power profile to two-gap, split combos, eat up space, or penetrate rushing lanes in a one-gap scheme.

Weaknesses:

• Pass Rush Aggression: Harmon is inconsistent with his aggression and leg drive to play through blocks. He is often too patient reading the blocking concept, waiting too long to engage the blocker in front of him.
• Pad Level: His tight hips and tall stature result in a high pad level, which impacts his bull rush effectiveness.
• Lateral and Rotational Movement: Wins are typically in a straight line, with tight hips, core, and upper half that limit his ability to rotate effectively. His limitations rotationally are especially noticeable after winning the corner from wider alignments but struggling to finish.
• Consistency: Harmon is not contact-averse, but there are stretches where he gets hyper-focused on winning with finesse around blockers rather than going through them. His violence level will need to be more consistent in the NFL.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for Derrick Harmon:

When I first started watching Harmon, I was conflicted by his tape. I saw the loud flashes of athleticism and savvy hand usage. Then, the moment of run-stuffing dominance started to show up, but something still didn't feel right about what I saw. I had to watch more games to figure it out.

After watching five games, I realized that his eagerness to win with finesse instead of power made me uneasy. You see, there are very few ways that I have ever won anything athletically with finesse. I respect it, but when you are a 300+ pound defensive tackle who can win with dominant power, I want to see that more often than not. Then again, I never experienced the athletic freedom of cutting down from 350+ pounds to 305 pounds.

Ultimately, Harmon has some of the best film in this year's extremely deep defensive tackle class. He consistently took control of reps in big moments, showing the ability to win with power and finesse. In the NFL, he will need to lean into the power side of his game more often, but I don't anticipate that being an issue once NFL coaches get their hands on him. When he uses his strength more often, his game is reminiscent of former Bears great, Akiem Hicks.

Harmon has the ceiling of a Pro Bowl defensive tackle who could make one or two All-Pro teams in his career. His floor is a borderline starter who gets regular snaps on a rotational basis. If he leans into his power and a more aggressive mindset, becoming a Pro Bowl player is undoubtedly achievable. If he doesn't, a pass-rushing role in a defensive line rotation will be in his future.

Harmon would be an excellent addition to the Bears' defensive line. He has the power and mass to back up Andrew Billings and the athletic twitch to back up Gervon Dexter. The Bears' new defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, would like such a versatile athlete in the room, as he runs a fair amount of stunts and games when he has the personnel to do so. The Bears should strongly consider Harmon at pick 10 of the 2025 NFL Draft or in a slight trade-down.

Pro Comp: Christian Barmore

Up Next: Xavier Watts