Pittsburgh opened preseason with a 31-25 win over Jacksonville and gave Steelers fans a few early roster peeks. Max Hurleman, D'Shawn Jamison, and Skylar Thompson stood out as the biggest winners for the black-and-gold, underscoring talent depth that could shape the final 53. Most notable was Derrick Harmon, the No. 21 pick in the 2025 draft from Oregon, whose two pressures on 22 pass-rushing snaps hinted at interior disruption the Steelers hoped for.

Harmon isn’t billed as a flashy stat-sheet stuffer yet, but CBS’ Chris Trapasso graded his debut a solid B- for his interior reach and pressure rate. He didn’t rack up tackles or a sack, but collapsing interior pockets is precisely what he was drafted to do, and a 10% pace from interior rushers is meaningful in the NFL. Pittsburgh plans to side Harmon with Keeanu Benton and Cameron Heyward, giving him veteran mentorship as he acclimates to pro life. Harmon’s 2024 college line—45 tackles, 11 TFL, five sacks—suggests a trajectory toward interior pressure as a long-term asset, potentially a steal in dynasty formats if he keeps advancing.

Hurleman and Jamison added to the depth storyline, offering viable roster cases behind the top options. Thompson’s presence adds a further layer of competition behind starter Kenny Pickett. For fantasy, the takeaway isn’t just the Week 1 results but the roster path these players may carve—Hurleman as a potential late-round flier for WR depth, Jamison as a developmental corner, Thompson as a superflex depth option, and Harmon as a high-upside interior pass-rusher with early-season upside in IDP formats. The Steelers’ interior line looks primed to threaten quarterbacks, potentially lifting defensive pressure numbers across the unit as Harmon's role expands.

Next up, Pittsburgh faces more preseason action as Harmon's role clarifies and the rest of the depth chart evolves. If Harmon, Benton, and Heyward can sustain pressure, fantasy managers should monitor the Steelers’ front for subtle IDP gains and late-season upside. Hurleman’s development and Jamison’s rookie-season trajectory will also feed into Steelers’ depth dynamics, reinforcing a roster that could offer sneaky upside in deeper formats as the season approaches.