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Brooke Pryor
Pittsburgh – despite the quarters Sheder Sanders And Jaxson Dart Always available, the Pittsburgh Steelers Avoids the position all together and selected the Oregon Defensive Takele DERRICK HARMON With the overall choice n ° 21 Thursday evening at NFL draft.
The director general of the Steelers, Omar Khan, said that the organization was not attempted to write a signator with the choice.
“We were at the chronometer,” he said Thursday evening. “We had the player we wanted.”
Harmon was one of the handles of players that the Steelers identified as one that would not exchange if it was available. Khan said that the Steelers had offered several commercial offers, but they firmly set the choice.
“He has a steeler DNA for us,” said coach Mike Tomlin. “It starts inside and in advance, and it is a guy who is able to dominate this space against the race and the pass, and therefore we are really excited to have it.
The Steelers entered the first round of the project determined not to leave Aaron Rodgers“The imminent – but prolonged – decision of its future affects their strategy project.
And by selecting Harmon with only two quarters under contract, the Steelers apparently reported their confidence continues that Rodgers will eventually land in Pittsburgh.
Earlier this week, Tomlin recognized that the outcome of the draft could affect their pursuit of external quarters, including Rodgers.
“What you are doing in the project often affects an acquisition of talents that occurs afterwards,” he said at the Predraft press conference on Tuesday. “We will see how the acquisition takes place this weekend.”
Harmon, who has passed his first three seasons in the state of Michigan, is an immediate infusion of young people for a defensive line of the aging Steelers anchored by a longtime captain Cameron Heyward. Heyward, who will be 36 years next month, pleaded for his team to choose Harmon on a live Instagram flow before the selection. And the appreciation is mutual. Harmon said he models his game after Heyward.
“It was my first reflection process when I received the call, it was that I would be able to choose Cam’s brain, to be under his wing,” said Harmon. “It could be my veterinarian now, and I can really learn from him. He has always been doing this since I was a baby, so it wouldn’t be any other way I want him, really. ”
Harmon was one of the nine defensive line players organized by the Steelers during their top-30 sample visits. Although the rumors of a shoulder problem whipped before the project, Harmon was evaluated by the Steelers medical staff during his visit. Khan and Tomlin said they were “extremely comfortable” with Harmon’s health.
“I’m fully standing, ready to leave,” said Harmon about his shoulder. “I have no concerns (no) concern. I’m ready to go to work. “
Harmon recorded five bags in his only season with the Ducks and exploded for 11 plated for defeat. He also directed the FBS in 2024 with 34 quarter-Arrière pressures when it is aligned as a defensive tackle, and its pressure rate of 10.7% as a defensive tackle was the second best of FBS.
“The extreme emergency,” said Tomlin, describing the level of emergency in the fight against the defensive line. “To be completely honest with you, there is no substitute for young talents. You are not lucky to fill a quality defense unless you are big inside and at the front. It is a young guy, guy, who has the opportunity to learn from Cam Heyward and put his hand in this pile and to be an important contributor for us for the years to come.”