2025 NFL Draft Rewind: Would the Steelers Still Take Derrick Harmon at No. 21?
Looking back at the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s hard to argue the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t get solid value with their first-round pick. Derrick Harmon stepped into a tough role as the heir apparent to Cam Heyward, and while he wasn’t an every-game starter, he showed flashes of exactly why the Steelers believed in him. Smart, physical, and disruptive up front, Harmon gave Pittsburgh’s defensive line a much-needed boost - especially against the run.
But in a recent draft do-over exercise, the Steelers went in a completely different direction. Instead of sticking with Harmon, the re-draft had Pittsburgh selecting wide receiver Luther Burden III - a dynamic rookie playmaker who ended up with the Chicago Bears.
Here’s the context: Pittsburgh’s passing game struggled to find consistent rhythm all season. Kenneth Gainwell, a running back, led the team in receptions with 73 - a stat that speaks volumes about the lack of firepower at wide receiver.
Outside of DK Metcalf, no wideout topped 375 receiving yards. That’s a tough pill to swallow in a league built on explosive plays and separation.
Enter Luther Burden III. The Missouri product turned heads in his first year with the Bears, racking up 652 yards and two touchdowns on 47 catches.
What made Burden stand out wasn’t just the raw numbers - it was how he got them. According to Next Gen Stats, he posted the third-highest yards after catch per reception (7.4) and the second-best passer rating when targeted (123.1) among all receivers with at least 50 targets.
Only Puka Nacua ranked higher in that latter category. That kind of efficiency and explosiveness is exactly what Pittsburgh’s offense lacked.
Yes, Burden did have five drops, but when you’re watching a rookie consistently generate highlight-reel plays and turn routine catches into chunk gains, you live with a few miscues. For a Steelers team trying to maximize what’s left in Aaron Rodgers’ arm, a true WR2 like Burden could’ve been a game-changer.
Still, it’s not like Harmon was a miss. He played in 12 games, started eight, and logged 27 tackles, three sacks, a pass defended, and a fumble recovery.
More importantly, his presence helped stabilize the run defense when he was on the field. Mike Tomlin’s unit looked noticeably more stout up front with Harmon in the mix, and that’s no small thing in the AFC North, where stopping the run remains a non-negotiable.
So would the Steelers do it differently if they had the chance? Maybe.
It’s easy to see the appeal of adding a young, electric receiver like Burden to an offense in need of juice. But Harmon gave them real value on the other side of the ball - and in Pittsburgh, defense still matters.
The good news for the Steelers? Both players look like they’re going to be around for a while, and both are already proving they belong.