The Steelers’ new coaching staff has many things to figure out this offseason; among them is Nick Herbig’s immediate future. Going into a contract year but with no starting job available, how do they approach the situation? Do they let him play out the deal, try to convince him to sign an extension? What about opening up a starting opportunity, which would mean trading T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith? Or maybe even trading Herbig?
“They have to figure that out”, Ray Fittipaldo wrote in a recent chat session about Nick Herbig and the Steelers’ plans for him. “When you hit on a guy like Herbig in the draft you want to sign him to a second contract, but it’s going to be hard for him to start unless there are injuries to Watt or Highsmith. Maybe they try to make a deal or maybe they just let him play out his contract and see where things stand next year at this time”.
The fact that they have a new coaching staff makes the situation even more difficult to read. While we have heard from the Steelers’ new head coach, Mike McCarthy, a few times, he hasn’t brought up Nick Herbig. Perhaps someone will ask GM Omar Khan when he speaks to reporters at the Combine later this month.
The Steelers selected Nick Herbig in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They didn’t need a starter, having already had T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith as an established pair. They needed depth, however, and he provided that right away.
But his second season, the Steelers were trying to find creative ways to get Herbig on the field more. Injuries prevented heavy use of a 3-OLB look, but some of those injuries allowed Herbig to start games. While his productivity leveled off somewhat with increased playing time, he has already proven himself.
Over three seasons and 1,216 snaps, Nick Herbig has 79 career tackles with 23 for loss, 16 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 4 recoveries, 1 interception, and 3 passes defensed. He returned one fumble for a touchdown, and should have had a pick-six that he dropped. Last season, on 610 snaps, he recorded 30 tackles, 13 for loss, with 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception, 3 passes defensed, and a defensive touchdown via fumble recovery.
In addition to Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig, the Steelers also have 2025 draft pick Jack Sawyer. While he is still improving his pass rush, he is an otherwise stout contributor with future starter potential. Now, too many good pass rushers is a problem that is the envy of all the league. But at some level, it is still a problem or at least something that requires figuring.
The fundamental question the Steelers must ask themselves is, should Nick Herbig be our starter, and on what timeline? Watt will be 32 this season; is Herbig willing to wait two or three years? Highsmith is under contract for the next two seasons; can he wait that out? And what is to become of Sawyer? If Herbig is willing to sign a team-friendly deal, they’ll gladly do that. But why would he want to?
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