Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the days leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, WGR will provide profiles on some players that could be a good fit for the Buffalo Bills at positions of need.
As we continue to focus on defensive tackles, this profile will feature Derrick Harmon from the University of Oregon.
Do you remember what you were doing when you were 21-years-old? For Harmon, he is preparing to be drafted by a team in the National Football League.
The red-shirt junior from Detroit, Mich. will turn 22 in October.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Harmon was a star coming out of high school. He was a five-star prospect and rated the third-best defensive tackle prospect in the State of Michigan. Harmon decided to stay in his home state, but go over to East Lansing and play at Michigan State University.
Harmon spent three seasons playing for the Spartans, appearing in 28 games, 15 of which he started. In 2023, Harmon led Michigan State defensive linemen in snaps and tackles, but with the Spartans program going through some down years, Harmon transferred to the new Western time zone portion of the Big Ten, joining the Oregon Ducks.
Last season, Harmon started all 14 games for the Duck,s who were one of the best teams in the country. He was named a Second-Team All-Big Ten member, as well as a Second-Team All-American.
Harmon registered career-highs in tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (5). In addition, he had 45 tackles, four pass break ups, two forced fumbles and had a couple of fumble recoveries.
According to Pro Football Focus, Harmon led all interior defensive linemen in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 55 pressures.
Here is what Joe Marino from the “Locked on Bills” and “Locked on NFL Scouting” podcasts has to say about Grant:
Positives:
I think Derrick Harmon is probably the cleanest projection of what we have learned the Bills like in a nose tackle prospect, and who he is.
I think the name of the game for Harmon is length and hand power, and that leads to an ability to play with extension. He can use his hands to deconstruct blocks, and get off contact.
There's a nimbleness for a guy that is big nose tackle. He's not a monster like 350 pounds, but 315 pounds, and I think he's light on his feet and can really get into gaps as well. I don't think he's just a space heater, there's a penetration upside that I think you get out of Harmon.
Good first step quickness, firm at the point of attack, hot motor and another ascending player that transfers from three years of Michigan State, goes to Oregon, and plays his best football.
He is 21-years-old, and I thought that in a lot of ways, he was dominant as a run defender and as a pass rusher this past season.
Concerns:
Finishing.
Harmon had a 27% missed tackle rate in 2024. I think he's a guy that's got to play with better control and balance once he beats blocks.
Put yourself in a position where you're under control and can come to balance once you break through. I think he is high hipped, which affects his ability to work laterally. If he has to quickly redirect, the high hips get in the way and it's hard for him to spring laterally.
I think just as an athlete, he's just much more of a linear player. I think he misses opportunities to turn disruption into production by not being more under control. He's got a natural disadvantage with the high hips.
WGR will provide full coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft during all seven rounds, starting Thursday, April 24 and continuing through Saturday, April 26.
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