Is 2026 Nick Herbig’s last season with the Steelers?
The Steelers only have Nick Herbig under contract for the 2026 season. Will he be lining up—and starting—in another jersey next year? Even Pittsburgh began referring to him as a starter despite having T.J. Watt and Alex Higsmith, both of whom are among the top-paid players at outside linebacker.
A fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Nick Herbig came to the Steelers facing questions about his size. Even he acknowledged the possibility he could have to move to inside linebacker in the NFL rather than stay outside. But in Pittsburgh, he proved that he could hold up on the edge. Now the only problem is finding him snaps—and the money that goes along with it.
Nick Herbig is just one of several players from the Steelers’ 2023 class they want to extend, but it takes two to tango, as they say. With Watt and Highsmith still entrenched in starting roles—seemingly—there is no immediate opportunity for upward mobility. If he wants a clear chance to start, he’ll need to leave next year. And that obviously means not signing a contract extension this offseason.
In 15 games for the Steelers in 2025, Herbig produced 7.5 sacks in 610 snaps. He also registered 18 quarterback hits, showing he was consistently getting after the quarterback. In total, he has 16 sacks across 1,216 snaps. Including special teams work, he also has an impressive 9 forced fumbles. He nabbed his first interception last year, too—though he should have had another one.
Nick Herbig might not be what AI would spit out if you programmed the ideal 3-4 edge rusher, but the Steelers have seen enough to know that he deserves to start. At the same time, that doesn’t mean they have a starting job for him. After all, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith deserve to start, too.
The equation the Steelers have to consider is the long-term future and whether Herbig is worth sacrificing a starting linebacker. It would be extremely difficult to give him a starter-level contract extension without providing him a starting job. But is trading Watt or Highsmith the only way Herbig remains with the Steelers beyond 2026?
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin resigning.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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