Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan Brush Off Derrick Harmon’s Injury Concerns
Pittsburgh's Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and Derrick Harmon all downplayed reports that the draft pick was dealing with a knock to his shoulder.
After drafting Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers shared they are not overly concerned with his so-called “injury history.”
In their post-draft media availability late Thursday night, general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin dismissed any worries that Harmon is hampered by some sort of shoulder injury.
“We wouldn’t have picked him unless our medical staff was comfortable with it,” Khan said.
They never denied that one existed, either. But Harmon came to Pittsburgh earlier this month for a pre-draft visit and he was checked out by the Steelers’ personnel. Tomlin revealed no red flags showed up.
“We were extremely comfortable with that component,” Tomlin said.
Speaking with media over the phone, Harmon said that he didn’t even know what the worries were about.
“I don’t know man, I’m fully healthy ready to go,” he said. “I don’t have no concerns. I’m ready to get to work.”
In his three seasons of college football, Harmon did not miss a single game due to injury. He played 38 games.
In their comments, neither one denied that an injury existed. Harmon fell to the Steelers despite some projections having him off the board by their turn. Defensive tackles Mason Graham (fifth to Cleveland Browns), Kenneth Grant (13th Miami Dolphins) and Walter Nolen (16 to Arizona Cardinals) were all taken above the Oregon and Michigan State product.