Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has a tendency to give veterans the benefit of the doubt over rookies early in the season, even if the rookies are clearly more talented. Joey Porter Jr. had to wait until midway through his rookie season to see starting snaps. Dan Moore Jr. forced Broderick Jones to switch from left tackle to right tackle, possibly contributing to his disappointing career so far.
Despite that track record, things seem to be a little different in 2025. First-round pick Derrick Harmon has already been named a starter along the defensive line, and he has gotten plenty of snaps through two preseason games to prepare for the opportunity.