The Kansas City Chiefs made it back to the Super Bowl, but if there’s one thing that kept their defense from fully dominating—it was the lack of consistent interior disruption behind Chris Jones. With Tershawn Wharton heading to the Carolina Panthers and the defensive tackle rotation looking thin, Kansas City has every reason to reload in the trenches.
Derrick Harmon might not be a household name yet, but his breakout season at Oregon has vaulted him into first-round territory. He’s a strong, violent interior lineman who can take on doubles, collapse the pocket, and make life miserable for quarterbacks and running backs alike. The Chiefs have hit on plenty of late first-round picks in the past, and Harmon would fit that mold again.
Here’s our scouting profile on the powerful Oregon product.
Oregon DT Derrick Harmon 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
- Height: 6-foot-5
- Weight: 310 pounds
- Recruiting: 2021 3-star, No. 969 national, No. 117 DL
- Third-Team All-Big Ten (2024), Second-team Associated Press All-American (2024)
- Logged 5 sacks and 10.5 TFL for Oregon in 2024
Positives
- Stout, powerful interior defender with long arms and heavy hands—excels at locking out blockers and maintaining gap integrity
- Versatile enough to line up at multiple spots across the line and thrive in both odd and even fronts
- Strong rip and arm-over moves that allow him to generate interior pressure; flashed true three-down potential in 2024
- Processes blocking schemes quickly and rarely gets fooled—disrupts timing in the backfield with quick reads and decisive movement
Harmon brings the kind of physical presence the Chiefs have been missing next to Chris Jones. He’s thick, long, and hits like a truck. His hand strength pops on tape—he jolts linemen on contact and consistently wins leverage battles despite his height. Harmon holds up well against double teams and has shown he can be a block-eater or a penetrator, depending on the ask.
He’s not just strong—he’s smart. He diagnoses plays early, gets into position before linemen can adjust, and uses his length to control the rep. At Oregon, he took a massive leap forward, anchoring one of the best defensive fronts in the country. His breakout performance in the College Football Playoff cemented him as a true impact player.
Negatives
- Still working on refining his pass-rush plan—can get stuck on blocks when his first move doesn’t land
- Tends to pop up too high out of his stance at times, giving up leverage and letting linemen into his frame
- Will occasionally lose gap discipline when over-pursuing, leading to cutback lanes and missed tackles
There’s no questioning the tools, but Harmon isn’t a finished product. He needs to expand his counter moves as a rusher, as he sometimes relies too heavily on power. His pad level can get too high, especially late in games, and that’s where he can lose reps against leverage-savvy linemen.
He also has a tendency to get overeager when chasing plays down, leading to some occasional over-pursuit or leaving his assignment early. That’ll get coached out, but it’s something to watch.
Derrick Harmon NFL Player Comparison:
- Primary Comp: Johnathan Hankins
- Alternative: D.J. Jones
- Floor Comp: Teair Tart
The best comp for Harmon is Johnathan Hankins—a big, long interior defender with surprising explosiveness and a knack for disrupting the run game. Harmon, like Hankins, thrives with strong hands, disciplined technique, and the ability to hold down the interior without being flashy.
D.J. Jones is a close match if you want to bank on Harmon’s mobility and alignment flexibility. At worst, he could follow a Teair Tart-type trajectory: a rotational player who flashes in spurts but needs refinement to earn full-time snaps
Derrick Harmon 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Late 1st/Early 2nd
Harmon isn’t the flashiest defensive tackle in this class, but he’s one of the most reliable. His blend of length, power, and processing gives him real every-down upside. For a team like the Chiefs looking to stay nasty in the trenches, Harmon feels like the kind of pick that pays off in January.
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