Can Harmon be the hammer to Dexter Lawrence’s anvil?
The 2025 defensive tackle class is already shaping up to have an impressively deep and broad pool of talent.
And while the top of the class will get all the attention, there will be impact players going throughout the first three rounds of the draft. Even better, there will be players available to fit any role on any scheme that a team may desire. So while the New York Giants might not select a defensive tackle with the third pick in the draft, they’ll likely be able to find a good player later on if they so desire.
Oregon’s Derrick Harmon isn’t getting national buzz at this point, but the former Michigan State Spartan is coming off the best year of his college career. He’s a big, powerful defender who could also fit the Giants’ desire for a defensive line that can attack — and penetrate — gaps.
Prospect: Derrick Harmon (55)
Games Watched: vs. Boise State (2024), vs. Ohio State (2024), vs. Purdue (2024), vs. Illinois (2024)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-5 (estimated)
Weight: 330 pounds (estimated)
Strengths
Best traits
- Play strength
- First step
- Competitive toughness
- Hand usage
- Run defense
Harmon is a big, powerful, versatile, and surprisingly explosive defensive tackle.
He’s built like a classic nose tackle at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds (listed), yet played everything from 5-technique defensive end to a true 0-technique nose tackle for the Ducks. Harmon has obvious power in his upper and lower halves, and plays up to his size with the ability to control double-teams or outright overpower lone blockers. He’s a capable run defender, and can clog running lanes or force cutbacks.
Harmon surprises with a remarkably explosive first step. He keys the snap well and is able to fire into the backfield with no wasted energy or motion. Harmon gains good ground with his second and third steps, and is able to surprise blockers with his speed off the ball. He combines his explosiveness with a polished set of pass rush moves that are built around his strength as a power rusher.
Harmon has a good bull rush and long-arm move to drive blockers onto their heels and back into the pocket. He also uses an effective club-rip move as a speed counter to beat blockers who are prepared for his power while also maintaining his leverage. Harmon does a good job of using his hands to keep blockers from accessing his chest and controlling him, allowing him to shed at will to make a play on the ball carrier or redirect in pursuit.
He has great competitive toughness and is always ready to fight through multiple blocks or try to win through second or third efforts. Likewise, Harmon is willing to pursue the ball carrier across the field and play through the echo of the whistle.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Lateral agility
- Conditioning
Harmon is a surprisingly explosive linear athlete, but not a particularly dynamic athlete. While he has great acceleration in a straight line, he struggles if he has to change direction. That’s to be expected given his size and explosiveness; you can get a dump truck up to highway speeds, but don’t expect it to handle like a Corvette.
But while it’s understandable, it does impact his game, and even subtle moves by offensive players lead to missed tackles. Harmon is disruptive, but all too often is unable to finish the play because of limitations on his ability to change directions.
There may also be concerns regarding his conditioning and how much of a snap load he can handle at the NFL level. Harmon’s play speed drops noticeably on longer reps or immediately after high-intensity reps where he’s forced to cover a lot of ground.
Game Tape
(Harmon is the Oregon defensive tackle wearing No. 55)
Projection
Harmon projects as an important player in an active defensive tackle rotation. He could be looked at as a starter in the right situation, or at worst the “DT2b” who’s the first player off the bench.
Derrick Harmon is a stout run defender as well as a disruptive pass rusher, and should be versatile enough to carve out a role in any defense in the NFL. His skill set should allow most teams to call on him in any given situation, and that should give him a broad appeal. That said, teams might want to explore a long-term recomposition plan to help. That could help him carry a heavier snap load and perhaps improve his lateral agility to be even more effective.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes
Final Word: An early Day 2 value