Player: OLB Nick Herbig
Stock Value: Up
Reasoning: Somewhat surprisingly, Nick Herbig locked in for four more years with the Steelers on a $100 million contract extension. Perhaps influenced by his brother’s injury, he opted to take the money now rather than play another season on a rookie contract. More relevant, the contract makes it clear that Herbig will have a bigger role on the Steelers’ defense than ever.
Nick Herbig wouldn’t say he’s not a starter, but he’s not on the field at the start of games. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not a core, or even primary player. And more than ever, it’s clear the Steelers intend for Herbig to be that within their defense. Even with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith still around, they plan to figure out a way for him to affect games.
For the pass rusher market, a four-year, $100 million contract isn’t exactly setting new precedent. It is, reportedly, the largest deal ever signed by a non-quarterback who isn’t a starter. But don’t tell Nick Herbig he isn’t a starter.
Regardless of what you call him, he played over 600 defensive snaps last season. But would Herbig see that kind of playing time if Watt and Highsmith didn’t routinely miss games due to injury? He even missed a game himself last year, forcing then-rookie Jack Sawyer to start a game.
That alone should have shown the Steelers how important it is to have quality depth off the edge. It’s not as though they didn’t already know that, trying to bolster the group in recent years with guys like Melvin Ingram. But they saw how special Nick Herbig could be, and they didn’t want to risk losing him.
It’s a lot to pay three outside linebackers, but it’s something you won’t regret having done when you need that depth. And with Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig, the Steelers have arguably the NFL’s best trio of pass rushers. Sawyer is a part of the conversation, as well, but, by necessity, he is of the lowest priority.
With the 2026 offseason well underway and many moves made, we have stock to take. Already promisinga year of change, the Steelers are shaking things up. That is unavoidable, of course, when you gut the coaching staff. Mike Tomlin’s resignation has fundamentally changed this football team, including the players on the roster.
After a long season, the Steelers showed the ability to win the division and make the playoffs. But they also showed that their progress was minimal,since they made it no further. Two years in a row, with two different quarterbacks, they went 10-7 and lost in the Wild Card Round. The only differences are they ended the season on a higher note and won the AFC North. But it didn’t help.
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