The last couple of days have been overwhelmed by Aaron Rodgers news, with conflicting reports regarding the chances he signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. But his isn’t the only contract situation the Steelers still need to figure out this offseason. In Nick Herbig, Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington and Chris Boswell, there are a handful of candidates to sign contract extensions with the Steelers.
The most intriguing might be Herbig. He’s been excellent when on the field, but the Steelers haven’t had room for him the last couple of years. Beat writer Ray Fittipaldo said it should become apparent after the Steelers report to Latrobe in late July if they envision a bigger role for him.
“I think you’ll get a pretty good indication during training camp, of how they’re using Nick Herbig, and whether he’ll be a part of their long-term plans. ‘Cause if there’s a way that Patrick Graham can get him on the field for more than the standard 20 reps of a top backup, then I think you can afford to sign him,” Fittipaldo said Friday on 93.7 The Fan.
One thing new Steelers DC Patrick Graham brings to the table is flexibility. With the lack of talent his Las Vegas defenses had in recent years, he didn’t really have a choice. And there are ways to get all three of Herbig, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on the field at the same time. This play toward the end of the Steelers’ Week 18 win last season is a good example. Watt and Highsmith are on the edge while Herbig has the athleticism to make a big play up the middle.
Given Herbig’s impressive production, plus Watt and Highsmith’s age, the Steelers would be wise to keep him around. But Herbig also has plenty of reasons to bet on himself instead. He could get a large contract elsewhere with a team can guarantee him more playing time than he gets in Pittsburgh.
Regardless, Fittipaldo thinks there’s a chance for some drama with the Steelers still trying to figure out those contract extensions into training camp.
“One of those guys will get done before they break before training camp. But I still think you’re gonna have two or three others, who are out there during training camp. And that’s gonna be a big storyline as well,” Fittipaldo said.
Of the four, Chris Boswell seems like he might get the first extension. As a kicker, his situation should be relatively simple. Porter will get the most money of those four. The Steelers badly need to keep him around, so he could get his money sooner as well. Washington won’t get as much, but his importance in the offense is clear. Fittipaldo himself thinks Boswell and Porter could be the Steelers’ first priorities.
Herbig’s situation is simply more complicated than the other three. His path to more playing time is still partially blocked by Watt and Highsmith. With both of them under contract through 2027, he’d have his reasons to decline an extension.
Either way, contracts have caused drama in Latrobe in the past. Last year, Cam Heyward had his own storyline. Fittipaldo thinks we could see something similar this summer.
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