Nick Herbig
Nick Herbig
He’s the new $100 million man after signing a big extension this offseason, and he figures to have a sizable role for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026 and beyond.
And now, outside linebacker Nick Herbig has another billing to live up to, thanks to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.
The next breakout star in the NFL.
On the latest episode of the Domonique Foxworth Show on YouTube, Barnwell highlighted Herbig as his pick to break out in 2026.
“I already know about Nick Herbig, but we’re gonna get him out to the masses today. Only seven and a half sacks; I know if you’re not someone who’s looking into pass rush win rate, that kind of stuff, maybe this is not necessarily on your radar, but number one in the NFL in pass rush win rate last season,” Barnwell said of Herbig, according to video via the show’s YouTube page. “And yes, he’s playing across from T.J. Watt; that’s gonna help. T.J. Watt gets a lot of double teams, a lot of chips, but you know what? A lot of dudes play across from great players, and they’re not number one in pass rush win rate.
“I think he’s gonna play a lot more this year, whether it’s Alex Highsmith getting traded, Alex Highsmith getting hurt, T.J. Watt getting hurt, playing fewer snaps. He can get a higher snap share, and I think he is the next great Steelers edge rusher.”
After signing Herbig to the $100 million contract ahead of the final year of his rookie deal, the biggest question for the Steelers and Herbig wasn’t about the pass rusher’s abilities. Instead, it was how can they get him on the field enough to justify the contract, at least early on.
The Steelers have experimented with a number of three-OLB looks so far in training camp, getting Herbig on the field with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, giving offenses something terrifying to think about. But that hasn’t stopped analysts like Barnwell from speculating about a Highsmith trade.
That’s just not happening.
Instead, the Steelers will lean heavily on their depth at outside linebacker with the big three and then second-year pro Jack Sawyer. Herbig will find a way to see plenty of snaps, whether that’s due to the rotation on the outside or due to injuries, which Highsmith and Watt have dealt with in recent years.
When Herbig is on the field, he’s a force. He had a career-high 7.5 sacks last season and led the NFL in ESPN’s pass rush win rate percentage, as Barnwell pointed out. We’ll see if that translates to success in 2026 and beyond, but one thing is clear: Herbig is the next star of the Steelers.