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Many saw Shedeur Sanders as a godsend for the 21st pick, but Omar Khan and Pittsburgh brass made the right decision by going for Derrick Harmon

Many saw Shedeur Sanders as a godsend for the 21st pick, but Omar Khan and Pittsburgh brass made the right decision by going for Derrick Harmon

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 25, 2025, 19:43 IST

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In a surprising move, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Oregon DT Derrick Harmon as the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, passing on the heavily speculated Shedeur Sanders. The decision, driven by the need to bolster their defensive line with Cam Heyward aging, garnered mixed reactions from fans, some of whom hoped for Sanders.

Many saw Shedeur Sanders as a godsend for the 21st pick, but Omar Khan and Pittsburgh brass made the right decision by going for Derrick Harmon

(Image via Getty)

With so much speculation around Shedeur Sanders being the 21st overall pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steelers’ staff left everyone stunned with their 21st overall pick for the first round of 2025 NFL Draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers chose DT Derrick Harmon over Shedeur Sanders because they needed help with the defensive line, as reported by CBS Sports. On April 25, 2025, NFL Insider Ari Meirov shared on his X platform, “The #Steelers pass on Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and are taking Oregon DT Derrick Harmon with pick No. 21. Defense for Mike Tomlin.”

In a shocking turn of events: Not Shedeur Sanders, but Derrick Harmon gets drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 21st pick

Alex Hanczar from the BTSC (Behind The Steel Curtain) Staff graded DT Derrick Harmon “A” and gave the following reasons,

Many saw Shedeur Sanders as a godsend for the 21st pick, but Omar Khan and Pittsburgh brass made the right decision by going for Derrick Harmon.
Cam Heyward is gaining age now.
Derrick Harmon and Keeanu Benton would play behind Cam Heyward, giving the team a strong defense over the years.
The quarterback issue is for another day, with only a handful of QBs remaining in the free agency and 2025 NFL Draft.

Is Shedeur Sanders another day’s topic for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Second-round pick? Or some other team’s written in Sanders’ destiny? Only time will tell.

Derrick Harmon may continue to develop under the guidance of Cam Heyward

Ryland Bickley graded DT Derrick Harmon “A+” and his reasons were as follows,

Derrick Harmon was the best player available
Well-rounded DT who fits the Steelers’ scheme
Harmon may continue to develop under the guidance of Cam Heyward
Harmon needs to work on finishing plays
He’s one of the best disruptors of the 2025 NFL Draft

“Shouldve picked Shedeur man” X users give mixed reactions for Pittsburgh Steelers picking DT Derrick Harmon over QB Shedeur Sanders

One Steelers fan wanted Shedeur Sanders instead of Derrick Harmon in Pittsburgh Steelers, “Shouldve picked Shedeur man”
Another brought the lost focus of Aaron Rodgers back, “AARON RODGERS INCOMING??”
Some were happy for Derrick Harmon,
“D-line lookin’ scary good”
“Going with a solid D lineman in the first round is the safe play”
“You did the right thing Steelers!”
Also Read: “Baby throwing up with motion sickness live on TV”: Kelvin Banks Jr. gets drafted to the New Orleans Saints but his son Khalil puked at that announcement | NFL News - The Times of India

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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