The Steelers have a philosophical choice in this draft. This is a team without a franchise QB but also significant needs at other positions. Should the team pursue the most important position on the team at the expense of value in the draft? According to media sources, both courses of action are on the table.
The Steelers have focused their pre-draft efforts on Defensive Line, Quarterback, and Running back with lesser but significant attention to receivers and defensive backs. In this mock draft, Shedeur Sanders is long gone and all the lower tier QBs remain on the board. Assuming they stay put at pick 21, the value of a top tier defensive tackle will be difficult to pass over. The Steelers need to add some building blocks for this defensive line as Cam Heyward sunsets his excellent career. With the cut of Ogunjobi, there is an immediate opening for a rookie to start at least 30% of the snaps based on sub package usage.
Harmon fits really well with what the Steelers ask their 3-down D-linemen to do. He can collapse the pocket, stop the run, obstruct passing lanes, and occasionally 2-gap to keep linebackers clean. Harmon has a huge frame at 6'4" with 34" arms. He has quick and powerful hands paired with a thick lower body. He has a well developed set of pass rush moves (rip, arm-over) to get after the passer. He has the flexibility to line up at NT or 5-tech in the base formation as well as a 3-tech in sub packages. Other breadcrumbs leading to Harmon include
playing at big name schools, multiple years of starting experience and an official visit to the Steelers.