Pittsburgh Steelers sign Derrick Harmon to four-year, $17.9 million rookie contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers and rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon have agreed to a four-year contract. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Harmon’s four-year deal is worth $17.9 million, and it’s fully guaranteed.

Harmon, who was selected by the Steelers at No. 21 overall in the draft, spent the majority of his college career at Michigan State. In 2021, Harmon redshirted at Michigan State but appeared in four games. He played in all 12 games in 2022 and finished with 30 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.

In 2023, Derrick Harmon played in all 12 games in 10 starts and tallied 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The 21-year-old transferred to Oregon last year and had his best season, posting 45 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Harmon was selected to the Associated Press All-America Second Team and All-Big Ten Conference Third Team.

Mike Tomlin explains why the Steelers drafted Derrick Harmon

After the Steelers selected Derrick Harmon, head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters they needed to draft a player like him. “There’s no substitute for young talent,” Tomlin said, per the Steelers’ official website last month. “You don’t have a chance to field a quality defense unless you’re stout up front. (Harmon) is a guy who has the opportunity to look toward the likes of Cam Hayward and put his hand in that pile and be a significant contributor for years to come.”

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com gave an analysis of Harmon before the draft. He compared Harmon to DaQuan Jones, a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills who is getting ready to play in his 12th NFL season.

“Position-versatile building block that makes moving the football a much tougher task. Harmon is wide, long and naturally powerful at the point of attack,” Zierlein wrote. “He can create traffic jams inside as a two-gapper or stunt and power his way into the backfield. He’s unlikely to be a primary sack man, but he can be part of a swarm unit that batters the pocket. He’s high-cut and tight-hipped, which limits his agility and reactive athleticism to finish. Harmon can play up and down the line in both odd and even fronts. He will bring an instant dose of stinginess and toughness to any defense he joins.”