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All eyes were on the Pittsburgh Steelers when they were on the clock with their first-round pick on Thursday night.
The Mike Tomlin-led squad was a playoff team last season, but, as of right now, they don't have a true starting quarterback on their roster.
Many believed the Steelers would select Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders -- despite many warnings from fans -- to give the club some security under center.
Instead, with the No. 21 overall pick, the Steelers opted to draft Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon -- extending the program's streak of first-round selections to six years.
Pittsburgh will hold its breath that Aaron Rodgers will sign with them, or they could draft a player like Sanders or Jalen Milroe on day two of the draft. To do so, they'd have to trade back into the second round, however.
Why was the Oregon standout taken before the Steelers addressed their lacking quarterback room? Head coach Mike Tomlin answered that question on Thursday night.
"Extreme urgency to be quite honest with you. There's no substitute for young talent," Tomlin explained. "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."
Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Derrick Harmon forces a fumble from Idaho Vandals quarterback Jack Layne as the Oregon Ducks host the Idaho Vandals Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
It seems the Steelers opted for a bona fide talent on the defensive side of the ball rather than appeasing some fans wanting quarterback security.
Pittsburgh doesn't have a second-round pick after trading for DK Metcalf this offseason.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound defensive tackle appeared in 14 games in Eugene after three years at Michigan State. In the lone season with the Ducks, Harmon tallied 5.0 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 45 total tackles.
He's a tank on the interior defensive line and should be a great player in Pittsburgh as he moves on from the collegiate level.
Continue reading...
The Mike Tomlin-led squad was a playoff team last season, but, as of right now, they don't have a true starting quarterback on their roster.
Many believed the Steelers would select Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders -- despite many warnings from fans -- to give the club some security under center.
Instead, with the No. 21 overall pick, the Steelers opted to draft Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon -- extending the program's streak of first-round selections to six years.
Pittsburgh will hold its breath that Aaron Rodgers will sign with them, or they could draft a player like Sanders or Jalen Milroe on day two of the draft. To do so, they'd have to trade back into the second round, however.
Why was the Oregon standout taken before the Steelers addressed their lacking quarterback room? Head coach Mike Tomlin answered that question on Thursday night.
"Extreme urgency to be quite honest with you. There's no substitute for young talent," Tomlin explained. "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."
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Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Derrick Harmon forces a fumble from Idaho Vandals quarterback Jack Layne as the Oregon Ducks host the Idaho Vandals Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
It seems the Steelers opted for a bona fide talent on the defensive side of the ball rather than appeasing some fans wanting quarterback security.
Pittsburgh doesn't have a second-round pick after trading for DK Metcalf this offseason.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound defensive tackle appeared in 14 games in Eugene after three years at Michigan State. In the lone season with the Ducks, Harmon tallied 5.0 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and 45 total tackles.
He's a tank on the interior defensive line and should be a great player in Pittsburgh as he moves on from the collegiate level.
Continue reading...
