Unpacking Future Packers: No. 1, Oregon DL Derrick Harmon

USA Today

24-04-2025

Unpacking Future Packers: No. 1, Oregon DL Derrick Harmon
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
A position that the Green Bay Packers could target early during the 2025 NFL Draft is defensive tackle. Kenny Clark is coming off the worst season of his career and is entering his 10th year in the league. His play in 2024 could just be a blip on the radar, or it could be a sign that a decline is coming.
Brian Gutekunst recently said that they'd like to keep Devonte Wyatt around beyond the 2026 season. Even with Wyatt part of the long-term plans, the Packers need another impactful interior presence to team with Clark and Wyatt.
A potential target in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is Derrick Harmon. The Oregon defensive tackle checks in at at No. 1 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A three-star recruit out of Michigan, Harmon started his collegiate career at Michigan State. During his three seasons with the Spartans, Harmon recorded seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Harmon transferred to Oregon for the 2024 season and recorded 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks and four pass deflections.
"Harmon was such a massive pickup for the Ducks," Zachary Neel, the Oregon Ducks beat writer for Ducks Wire, said. The fact that he was able to contribute as much as he did after coming in following the spring football season is incredible. He was a consummate professional, establishing himself as one of the best defensive tackles from the start of the season. Alongside Jordan Burch and Jamaree Caldwell, it's almost as if Harmon was the cherry on top of an already talented defensive line, but talk about a massively impactful cherry."
Harmon is an active interior defender. At 6-4, 313 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms, Harmon has an NFL-ready frame. Harmon is a powerful defensive tackle and has brute strength to drive offensive lineman backward to cave in the pocket. His go-to move as a pass rusher is a swim move. The Michigan State transfer has active hands and has plenty of backup plans in his chamber. Once he wins his matchup, he closes in on the quarterback with burst. To go along with his five sacks, Harmon recorded 55 pressures.
"You usually expect someone at Harmon's size and position to mainly be a run-stopper, but pass-rushing is really is strong suit," Neel said. "He led the FBS in QB pressures among all DTs with 55 last season, which is a remarkable number. That's 11 more pressures than any other DT in the nation. He has a variety of moves, from punches to spins and swims that let him get the better of offensive linemen matched up on him throughout the season. This is an elite interior pass-rusher."
Against the run, Harmon is stout at the point of attack and he stays balanced through contact. He puts down roots to anchor and control his gap. He's got good initial quickness to beat offensive linemen off the snap and get into the backfield to disrupt the action. If he doesn't win off the snap, he's got power in his hands and a strong upper body to toss offensive linemen to the side. Harmon has nimble footwork and has the quickness to chase down ball carriers. His length gives him a wide tackle radius. He's able to stick his arms out and slow down ball carriers.
"While not as impressive as his pass rush, Harmon was still a very solid run defender," Neel said. "With the 44th-best run defense grade in the nation, per PFF. Filling rushing lanes and drawing multiple defenders is something."
Fit with the Packers
The Packers need to find ways to disrupt the action in the backfield, both against the run and the pass. Their pass rush was stale at times last season and they need a more active interior presence.
This past season, the Packers' defensive tackle group recorded 10.5 sacks, with five of those sacks coming from Wyatt. The Packers desperately need to bolster their interior pass rush.
Harmon is coming off a season in which he recorded 55 pressures, which was the most among defensive tackles. To go along with that, he recorded 11 tackles for loss, 25 run stops and five sacks. He's the type of disruptor that Gutekunst is looking for up front.
"Regarded as one of the best defensive linemen in the draft, a lot of mocks don't have him going that high," Neel said. "One lucky team should be able to grab Harmon in the late teens or early 20s, and they're going to feel as if they got a steal doing so."
Harmon does not like being blocked. He's an active interior presence who checks all the boxes, with his strength, length, athleticism and age (22 in August).
If Harmon is somehow still on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 23rd overall pick, expect Commissioner Roger Goodell to announce him to the Packers. It would not be shocking to see Gutekunst make a minor trade up from 23 to 17 to snag the Michigan State transfer and make him the crown jewel of the 2025 draft class. The Packers need more impact players up front and Harmon fits the bill.