By AUSTIN HERTZOG

pennlive.com (TNS)

The Pittsburgh Steelers explored all options regarding their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Thursday night.

But with Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon available at No. 21, general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters there was no need for further discussion.

“The other day when we met, we talked about certain guys that we would not trade away from. This is one of those players for us,” Khan said.

“The phone was ringing and we had some serious conversations, but at the end of the day, once Derrick was still there, we were excited. It was an easy choice for us. Can’t wait to get him here. He fits the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Tomlin offered a ringing endorsement of Harmon.

“He has Steeler DNA,” Tomlin said. “For us, it starts inside and up front. He’s capable of dominating that space versus the run and pass. We’re really excited about having him.”

The Steelers added to a position of strength, a defensive line that already features All-Pros Cam Heyward and TJ Watt. Meanwhile, they passed on drafting a quarterback as was speculated on throughout the draft process.

After Miami QB Cam Ward was taken No. 1 overall by the Tennessee Titans, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was the only other QB taken in the first round, No. 25 by the New York Giants. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was not selected in the first round.

Harmon drew comparisons to Heyward during the draft process and now has an opportunity to learn alongside the 15-year veteran.

“You don’t have to field a quality defense unless you’re stout inside and up front,” Tomlin said. “This is a young guy who has the opportunity for learn from Cam Heyward

Saker/TNS and put his hand in that pile and be a significant contributor for us for years to come.”

Harmon, who started his collegiate career at Michigan State, was flagged with a shoulder injury before the NFL Draft. But the Steelers were undeterred for multiple reasons.

“I think he’s been impressive in every step of the process,” Tomlin said. “His tape was impressive, we had great visits with him in Indy, he came to Pittsburgh and we had a great day with him. With each interaction, we were more and more comfortable that he was our type of guy.

“His intangible qualities are very attractive.

He’s a smart guy. He’s a football guy. He’s got natural leadership skills. The people at Oregon were really blown away by his ability to fit and and not only fit in, but lead in a short period of time.”

In Indianapolis, Harmon stood at 6-foot-4, weighing in at 313 pounds. Harmon ran a 4.95 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split, both great numbers for his size. Harmon has not missed a game in three seasons while playing college football at Michigan State and Oregon. At Oregon, Harmon had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. In his collegiate career, Harmon posted 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss.

Harmon projects as a five-technique opposite of Cam Heyward, while Keeanu Benton will stick at nose tackle.

MOTHER OF PITTSBURGH STEELERS FIRST-ROUND PICK DERRICK HARMON DIES Tiffany Saine, the mother of Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Derrick Harmon, died hours after the NFL Draft, it was confirmed to PennLive.

Harmon shared Thursday night, his mother was on life support.

He rushed to the hospital after the team picked him to tell his mother that the Steelers picked him.

“It was a little bittersweet. My mom wasn’t with me,” Harmon said.

“She’s at the hospital right now on life. That was a little bittersweet because she worked just as hard as me to get to this moment… After I got the phone with you guys, I’m headed straight to the hospital and kind of tell her that her son got drafted.”

Harmon was able to get to the hospital and tell his mom he was drafted before she passed. One of Harmon’s NIL purchases during his time in college football was a wheelchair for his mother.

When Harmon was a freshman at Michigan State, Harmon’s mother suffered a stroke and became hospitalized.

Following that stroke, Saine was paralyzed on her left side and could not walk.

Harmon said his mom would go through brain surgeries and still drive him to practice.

“Man, how resilient she was. I grew up with her having probably seven, eight brain surgeries,” Harmon said.

“And after all those brain surgeries, man, she did not give up. She still needed practice, still went to work. And I always, always in the back of my head from the beginning of my college career was, ‘Why can’t I keep going?’

If I’m tired, I’m injured, whatever it is, ‘Why can’t I keep going?’ If she can get up and she can keep going after brain surgeries. So just her resilience and her hard work, really.

She was my inspiration.”

Harmon was the 21st pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He is scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh. He was surrounded by his immediate family during the NFL Draft. Harmon called his mother ‘his inspiration’ and ‘his why.’