PITTSBURGH — The silence in the Steel City is deafening. After a humiliating 30-6 Wild Card exit at the hands of the Houston Texans, the Pittsburgh Steelers are officially staring down a 16-year drought without a Super Bowl title. But while the scoreboard at Acrisure Stadium has long since gone dark, the finger-pointing is just heating up.
Every offseason brings the inevitable game of “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve,” but this year, the spotlight is burning a hole through the front office’s decision-making in the 2025 NFL Draft. Specifically, the selection of Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at No. 21 overall.
Harmon’s rookie campaign was a ghost story—he was there, then he wasn’t. But a new redraft from CBS Sports suggests the Steelers should have looked to the offensive trenches instead. The catch? The “better” option might have just cost the New England Patriots a Super Bowl ring.
The Harmon Experiment: Incomplete or Bust?
Derrick Harmon’s rookie year reads like a medical chart rather than a highlight reel. The former Oregon Duck and Michigan State transfer arrived with the promise of being a wrecking ball in the interior, but his availability was the only thing getting wrecked.
- August: Sidelined for two games with an MCL sprain.
- The Flash: Returned to post 7 tackles and 2.0 sacks in a three-game burst that teased his first-round potential.
- The Crash: Vanished for the rest of the regular season with a separate knee injury in late November.
Despite the “unnoteworthy” label slapped on his season by CBS Sports, Harmon did manage to suit up for the playoff disaster against Houston, logging six tackles and a sack. It was a solid individual effort in a team collapse, but for a first-round pick, “solid” doesn’t keep the championship window open.
The Redraft: The Will Campbell Mirage
In his latest 2025 redraft, CBS Sports analyst Blake Brockermeyer argues the Steelers should have sprinted to the podium for LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. On paper, it makes sense. Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been a construction zone for three years, and Campbell was a blue-chip prospect.
But here is where the “grass is greener” logic hits a brick wall. Campbell, originally drafted No. 4 overall by the New England Patriots, just finished a rookie season that exposed major cracks in his armor—cracks that were wide open for the world to see in Super Bowl LX.
“Will Campbell had a rough end to the year, but it’s all technique-based and was hidden somewhat by Jayden Daniels’ athleticism at LSU. He’s wired the right way and will rebound if he’s willing to get some outside coaching.”
— Blake Brockermeyer, CBS Sports Analyst
Super Bowl Scapegoat
If Steelers fans are feeling buyer’s remorse, a quick glance at the Super Bowl LX tape might cure it. Campbell was a liability on the game’s biggest stage. Tasked with protecting quarterback Drake Maye, Campbell crumbled, posting an abysmal 38.2 offensive grade according to Pro Football Focus.
The stats from his postseason run are genuinely alarming for a Top-5 pick:
| Stat Category | Playoff Total (Last 3 Games) |
|---|---|
| Pass-Blocking Grade | 36.6 (Average) |
| Sacks Allowed | 3 |
| Pressures Allowed | 14 |
| Hurries | 6 |
Eight of those pressures came against the Seattle Seahawks alone. Had Pittsburgh drafted Campbell, he would have joined Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu as the third consecutive first-round offensive lineman—a strategy that hasn’t exactly turned the Steelers into an offensive juggernaut, considering they still ranked 22nd in sacks allowed (31) in 2025.
NHANFL Verdict
So, did the Steelers miss out? Maybe. But trading an injured defensive tackle for a struggling offensive tackle who leaks pressure in the playoffs feels like swapping one headache for a migraine. The Steelers have issues to fix before the 2026 season kicks off, but missing out on Will Campbell might not be one of them.
