Omar Khan entered this offseason with some difficult tasks ahead. And while he didn’t handle everything perfectly in the eyes of many Steelers fans, notably the long wait for Aaron Rodgers, he did manage to pass a couple of key hurdles over the past week.
The first move of the week was a massive four-year, $100 million extension for Nick Herbig. The young pass rusher figured to be the most difficult of the several extensions the Steelers had on the docket this offseason. However, after Chris Boswell’s relatively simple deal, the Steelers agreed to terms with Herbig before names like Keeanu Benton, Joey Porter Jr. and Darnell Washington.
For a player who’s been a backup for most of his career, $100 million may feel like a lot. But when on the field, Herbig has been superb. He’s been very efficient in terms of his pass-rush win rate in each of the last two years, and finished second on the team in sacks (7.5) last year, despite starting only six games.
While Herbig’s annual average value of $25 million per year isn’t cheap, it’s not like it’s topping the market at his position. It’s only half of Will Anderson Jr.’s $50 million per year. And with 10 players at his position currently making over $30 million a year, Herbig’s deal looks more valuable.
When you draft and develop a player into something as talented as Herbig has become, you’ve got to keep them around. And although it may force some decisions down the line with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, Khan did well do lock down one of the Steelers’ most talented players for the future.
Shortly after, Omar Khan also inked a deal with Darnell Washington. This one was also for four years, but at a total of $42 million. Washington’s deal raised more eyebrows at first, with some in the media thinking it’s too expensive for a blocking tight end.
But Washington is a very unique player, who plays a unique role for the Steelers. He’s developed well as a blocker over the last few years, and has become a key cog in the offense in that regard. But 2025 showed a glimpse of what he could become as a pass catcher, too.
Washington finished the year with 31 receptions for 364 yards, each of which being a career high. Most importantly, he proved he can be more than just a big body who could make physical catches in traffic. Washington had a couple of fierce runs after the catch where his physicality was on display. He also made improvements in the intermediate game, finding ways to stretch the field and find soft spots in coverage.
As a former third-round pick, the Steelers developed Washington well after a quiet rookie year. And Khan repaid him nicely with a team-friendly deal, keeping a one-of-a-kind player in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future.
Those two extensions weren’t the only deals Omar Khan handed out this week. He also signed two players invited to minicamp, TE Robert Tonyan and LB Jamin Davis. Neither of those two will make many headlines, but they’re each sensible signings.
Tonyan is a familiar face for Aaron Rodgers, the only quarterback he’s consistently produced with. In five years with Rodgers in Green Bay, Tonyan had 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s not going to hold a major role, and will have to fight to make the 53-man roster. But the Steelers needed depth behind Washington and Pat Freiermuth, especially with Riley Nowakowski likely spending time at fullback. Tonyan provides that, and he’s got plenty of chemistry with the Steelers’ starting quarterback.
In Davis, there’s even more upside. It’s not often you can find a former first-round pick for this cheap. And it wasn’t that long ago that Davis held a large role in the NFL. Davis started 36 games over three and a half seasons with Washington to start his career. He posted 104 tackles in 2022 and 89 in 2023, each of those being seasons in which he held a major role.
He was released by Washington midway through the 2024 season, and spent time with Minnesota and Las Vegas since. It was in Las Vegas where he played for Patrick Graham last year, likely a big part of the reason the Steelers brought him in this week. Again, Davis will have to fight his way onto the 53-man roster. But it never hurts to add depth to a position which needs it, let alone in the form of a former first-round pick with plenty of athleticism.
Omar Khan still has some hurdles ahead. He’s got to lock in Joey Porter Jr. for the long haul. Keeanu Benton has an argument to receive his own extension as well. But this week, Khan managed to secure contract extensions with two key young players, and bring in some low-risk, high-upside depth additions as well. For that, he deserves some credit.
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