WHERE HE'S FROM: Harmon, 6-foot-41/2 and 313 pounds, is a native of Detroit who initially attended Michigan State before eventually transferring to Oregon after the coach who had recruited him to Michigan State, Mel Tucker, was fired. Harmon arrives in the NFL at the age of 21 after just four seasons in college (three with the Spartans and one with the Ducks).
WHAT HE'S DONE: Harmon weighed 350 pounds when he first arrived at Michigan State but slimmed down after his transfer to Oregon. He registered a combined 6.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks in his first three campaigns, then enjoyed a breakout 2024 season (10.5/5.0). Harmon also consistently generated pressure on the way to earning Third-Team All-Big ten honors in his lone Oregon season.
He ran a 4.95 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, which confirmed the explosive, athletic game he had put on tape. Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic identified "dogged effort" as Harmon's "calling card when chasing." After playing just four games as a freshman at MSU in 2021, Harmon appeared in 38 consecutive games and made 29 starts over his final three seasons.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Derrick Harmon kind of stole the show a little bit in his smooth approach, is agility, the way he got in and out of things." _ NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales on Harmon's on-field performance at the Combine.
"He's one of the most disruptive players in the country. He just lived on the other side of the line of scrimmage." _ NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
"Overall, Harmon is a highly active and disruptive big man who consistently finds ways to gain freedom from blocks as a penetrating pass rusher and run stuffer. He projects as a scheme-diverse NFL starter, anywhere from one- to five-technique." _ Brugler.
