Nick Herbig
Getty
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig.
Among the many players that the Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping to extend at some point soon is veteran edge-rusher Nick Herbig. While the organization is focused on the upcoming NFL Draft, which takes place two weeks from Friday in Pittsburgh, it will have to deal out some extensions once the draft concludes. Herbig is one of the team’s big names that is not locked in beyond 2026.
However, insider Mark Kaboly believes the Steelers may have to be very creative in their approach to signing him to an extension before the start of the 2026 season. Again, the team has several players looking for an extension, and you can’t pay everybody.
The Pittsburgh Steelers May Need to Convince Nick Herbig on New Contract
Nick Herbig
GettyNick Herbig was drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round out of Wisconsin back in 2023.
While almost every contract negotiation involves some sort of convincing, if too much convincing is going on, it is proof that the deal is either wrong for the player or wrong for the team. While Herbig was greatly valued in Pittsburgh by Mike Tomlin and Co., that doesn’t change the fact that the Steelers will have to work hard to come up with the right contract extension for him.
Here is what Kaboly posted on social media on Wednesday about the prospect of the organization extending Herbig:
“Herbig seems like a slam-dunk priority on the surface, but I feel that the Steelers are going to have to convince Herbig with maybe a creative approach to a contract to be able to get it done before the start of the season…Maybe a 2-year deal worth $30 million is doable in the interim, but it might be difficult to convince Herbig to agree to that.”
A possible issue for Herbig with a two-year deal is that there isn’t any crazy long-term security. Sure, he’d be a Steeler for another three years. But, would the Steelers then offer him another major contract at 28 years of age? Unless he becomes the second coming of T.J. Watt, that could be unlikely. That is why Herbig may want more years, along with as much money as he can get.
Is Nick Herbig Worth a Massive Extension?
Omar Khan
GettySteelers GM Omar Khan has been with the organization since the 2001 season.
The problem with judging whether or not Herbig is worth a big extension is that the sample size hasn’t been big enough. While he has been with the team for three years, he has had to play behind the likes of Watt and Alex Highsmith. He has made just 11 starts in three seasons and has recorded just 16 sacks.
Now, he is still just 24 years of age and could be viewed as the future of the edge-rush position in the Steel City. With Watt entering year 10 and Highsmith on the verge of turning 29, Herbig could slide in as a starter in the next few years. He is coming of his best season as a pro with 7.5 sacks.
But with a new regime coming in, it could be tough to see how they value him. With the offseason moving quickly along, time will tell on whether or not the team and Herbig can soon put pen to paper.