The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a first-round pick on Derrick Harmon believing he could anchor their defensive line for the next decade. Fox Sports thinks year two is when it starts to show.
In a piece naming one breakout candidate from every AFC team, Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano tabbed Harmon as the Steelers' player poised for a breakout season in 2026.
The case starts with what a healthy Harmon could look like.
Vacchiano pointed to the injuries that shaped Harmon's rookie season, and the production he managed anyway.
"The No. 21 pick of the 2025 draft sprained his knee in the Steelers' preseason finale, and though he only missed the first two games, he was never fully healthy," Vacchiano wrote, noting Harmon missed another three games in December.
Even so, the numbers hinted at the ceiling. Harmon posted three sacks in limited playing time over 12 games, and Vacchiano believes a clean bill of health changes everything.
"If he's fully healthy, he'll be a bigger part of a defensive line that still has T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward to draw most of the attention," Vacchiano wrote.
That's the key for Harmon. On a front that demands blockers account for Watt off the edge and Heyward inside, a disruptive third piece can feast on the attention the veterans pull away.
Vacchiano tempered the sack expectations but not the outlook.
"Harmon probably won't put up huge sack numbers, but he'll have an increasing impact and show everyone why he's being groomed as Heyward's successor," Vacchiano wrote.
Harmon flashed more than the box score showed. The Oregon product finished his debut season with 27 tackles, three sacks, a fumble recovery and a batted pass that led to an interception, playing through a knee that never fully cooperated.
It was enough to earn him the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as Pittsburgh's top rookie, and he became the first defensive lineman to win the honor named after the Steelers legend. That's fitting for a player the franchise views as the long-term answer up front.
The succession plan isn't subtle. Heyward is a six-time Pro Bowler entering the twilight of a great career, and the Steelers made no secret of why they drafted Harmon to learn behind him.
"There is no substitute for young talent," coach Mike Tomlin said after the pick, calling Harmon someone with the chance to learn from Heyward and become a significant contributor for years to come.
New defensive line coach Domata Peko has liked what he's seen early, praising the way Harmon uses his hands against the run and calling the 313-pounder a "specimen" during the offseason program .
The contract reflects the commitment. Harmon signed a four-year rookie deal worth roughly $17.97 million, fully guaranteed, and per Spotrac , it comes with the customary fifth-year team option that could keep him in Pittsburgh through 2029.
Pittsburgh didn't draft Harmon to be a rotational piece. They drafted him to be the next great Steelers defensive lineman. A healthy sophomore season is where that pitch either gains steam or stalls.
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