By Blessing 
Meet the Prospect: Derrick Harmon – A Disruptive Force in the Trenches
Standing 6-foot-4½ and weighing in at 313 pounds, Derrick Harmon has made his presence felt as a disruptive defensive tackle at Oregon. While his athletic testing was limited—he didn’t participate in the bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, or shuttle—he still made waves with a 4.95-second 40-yard dash, an impressive feat for a man his size.
Now, as the NFL Draft approaches, Harmon is drawing plenty of attention—not just for what he’s already accomplished, but for what he could bring to the next level.
Where He Fits in Detroit
The Detroit Lions already have a solid interior defensive line core, with Alim McNeill and DJ Reader expected to lead the way again in 2025. However, there’s some uncertainty heading into the season—McNeill is still recovering from an ACL tear in December, and his availability at the start of the year is up in the air.
Detroit has made a few insurance moves. The team re-signed Levi Onwuzurike and Pat O’Connor to one-year deals, brought in veteran Roy Lopez, and has been encouraged by the development of second-year player Mekhi Wingo. On paper, it’s a versatile and fairly deep rotation, but Harmon could offer something the current group lacks: a consistent interior penetrator who can live in the opponent’s backfield.
With so many players on expiring contracts—including Reader, Onwuzurike, Lopez, and O’Connor—it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions target a young difference-maker like Harmon to solidify their future alongside McNeill. After all, few things are more disruptive to a quarterback than pressure coming right up the middle.
How He Measures Up
Harmon isn’t just an intriguing prospect—he’s one of the most highly rated in the class. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah lists him at No. 26 on his latest Top 50 ranking. Dane Brugler of The Athletic is even higher on him, placing Harmon at No. 19 overall in his first Top 100 list.
“Harmon is a player who can win in different ways,” Brugler noted. “He forces blockers to attack air because of his lateral explosiveness, but he also uses strong, crafty hands to swat away their reaches as he bursts through gaps to close on the ball carrier. He must become a more consistent finisher, but there wasn’t a more disruptive interior defensive lineman in college football this season.”
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm also raved about Harmon, placing him at No. 22 in his own Top 100. “Harmon does some wild things for a big man, and he carries his weight well,” Edholm wrote. “He’ll always be a player who’s more impactful than his stat line might indicate.”
Even ESPN’s Field Yates placed Harmon at No. 31 on his initial Top 32 Big Board.
What Harmon Brings to the Table
At the NFL Combine, Harmon emphasized what sets him apart: his ability to fit into multiple defensive schemes.
“I’m very versatile,” Harmon said. “I can play from the zero (technique) to the five. I feel like I put that on tape this year. I can play anything… Whatever teams need me to play.”
With his size, versatility, and disruptive traits, Harmon is shaping up to be a name worth knowing—especially for teams looking to bolster their defensive trenches.