The Bengals need an interior presence on the defensive line. One first round option at No. 17 provides size and versatility.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense needs a big rebound this year. Since the purging of the roster after the 2023 offseason and age catching up with other players, the unit has taken steps backward over the past two seasons.
Gone is Lou Anarumo, who was the architect of a bend-but-don’t-break, yet somehow-clutch unit that we became accustomed to in 2021-2022, and in comes a familiar face, Al Golden. He’s tasked with developing and rebuilding a unit that can properly support Joe Burrow and the explosive offense.
Golden has young, athletic talent to mold, but roster holes remain. Cincinnati made a couple of moves in free agency on the defensive side of the ball with the signings of T.J. Slaton and Oren Burks, but the team has crawled into its shell after mega-extensions to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Cincinnati is at least partially betting on Golden being able to properly develop young talent at different positions on defense. One major key will be bolstering the defensive line, trying to free up Trey Hendrickson (as if there isn’t enough drama there alone) to continue thriving.
Oregon’s Derrick Harmon provides an intriguing option for the Bengals. He’s big, strong, and can move around on the line. This is a deep class for defensive linemen, and Harmon is one of the better ones in the class.
Derrick Harmon
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 313
- Age: 21 (22 in October)
- School: Oregon (Transfer from Michigan State)
- Year: Senior
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.96
- RAS:
Background
Harmon joined the Spartans in 2021, giving them three productive seasons. But after transferring to Oregon for his final season, things really began to fall into place for the huge defensive lineman.
After racking up 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in three years at Michigan State, Harmon had 5.0 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, respectively, in his final year at Oregon. He also doubled his passes defensed total (from two to four), fumble recoveries (one to two), and forced fumbles (one to two) in his lone season at Oregon, compared to his three-year career with the Spartans.
Unfortunately, Harmon didn’t go through all pre-draft workouts, making his RAS profile incomplete. But the film shows a big guy who moves well with a penchant for making big plays.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Harmon is big and versatile, much like other Oregon defensive linemen who went on to have productive pro careers. While he is obviously primarily an interior lineman, there are times when Harmon lined up as an edge guy in three-man fronts and did so with effectiveness.
He has shown a penchant for making plays in both pass and run situations, which makes him a coveted prospect. Some of his better plays came against solid competition, which also bodes well for his future.
A sub-5.0 40-yard dash at over 310 pounds is incredibly impressive as well. The 20- and 10-yard splits were okay, but that sometimes comes with the territory of a big man like Harmon.
There are times when Harmon misses a tackle, which is concerning. Additionally, there are “losses” on tape where he gets stifled at the line of scrimmage, but to his credit, there are occasions where he eventually sheds the block and makes the play for a minimal gain.
Outlook
Harmon should have a productive NFL career. Famed NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has coined this draft “one for starters,” particularly on the defensive line, and Harmon fits the bill as a longtime contributor on defense.
The former Ducks and Spartans defensive lineman is at an interesting crossroads in his development. He’s going to be 22, which puts him on the younger side, indicating a potential ascension in his game. Additionally, as mentioned before, Harmon raised his play to a new level last year, continuing to show that the arrow is pointing upward.
The potential for an all-around disruptor is there. He’ll make the occasional play in the run game, pressure and/or sack the quarterback with solid frequency, and has a bit of that Carlos Dunlap-esque ability to bat the ball at the line. Harmon also seems to be relatively comfortable moving around to different spots, which is intriguing for a guy his size.
There are some things he needs to clean up, namely in the way of finishing tackles and achieving a bit more consistency. But for a team needing beef and talent on defense in the rough-and-tumble AFC North, Harmon provides a solid option for the Bengals’ defensive line this year.
Our thanks to those who have checked out all of our shows on The Orange and Black Insider and the BLEAV in Cincy podcast channel. Check out one of our recent videos chronicling and thanking Sam Hubbard for his time with the Bengals.
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