Steelers 2-a-days: Nate Herbig signed as OL depth, Nick Herbig drafted as intriguing OLB prospect

Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

OL NATE HERBIG

Experience: 5^th season

Contract status: $2.54 million cap hit in 2023, signed through 2024

2023 outlook: When Herbig initially agreed to terms with the Steelers on the second day of “legal tampering” free agency, it was expected he would be given an opportunity to start. After all, while the $8 million with $4 million guaranteed over his two-year deal was not an exorbitant amount, it was a stretch that that type of contract would be given to a player strictly to be a backup.

But when, four days later, the Steelers signed one of Herbig’s ex-teammates — Isaac Seumalo — it largely closed the door on Herbig having any reasonable chance to start in 2023 aside from injury. Seumalo (three years, $24 million with $6.95 million signing bonus) was considered one of the top interior offensive linemen on the market. And factoring in that all three of the Steelers 2022 starters at guard and center are back, there doesn’t seem to be much of a spot for Herbig to play.

So, it would appear Herbig’s role is as a quality backup at guard and center. Most of his pro experience has been at right guard, but he’s also made starts at left guard and played regular-season snaps at center. The Steelers appear satisfied with Mason Cole starting at center and James Daniels at right guard.

One of three free-agent offensive linemen the Steelers signed who formerly played for the Philadelphia Eagles when now-Steelers assistant general manager Andy Wiedl was with that franchise, Herbig fits into the puzzle as a capable and versatile piece on the interior.

Steelers 4th-rd pick Nick Herbig on how special it is to join an NFL team with his brother, Nate, an offensive lineman pic.twitter.com/yHg0mVIj0J

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 12, 2023

OLB NICK HERBIG

Experience: Rookie

Contract status: $918,230 cap hit in 2023, signed through 2026

2023 outlook: One of two players the Steelers drafted off the Wisconsin defense, Herbig has already been playing the style of outside linebacker the Steelers like: two-point stance, adept in coverage and with an ability to pressure quarterbacks.

Herbig led college football in sacks per game last season (11 in 11 games), and according to Pro Football Focus only four Power Five edge defenders in the country were deployed in coverage more often (95 snaps). Herbig also had the fifth-best PFF grade for coverage and fourth-best grade overall for Power Five edge defenders.

So, how did Herbig fall into the fourth round of the draft? Herbig’s size is less than ideal, and scouts questioned if he had NFL-caliber strength. Luckily, with T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Markus Golden at his position the Steelers have the ability to “redshirt” Herbig for a year and let him play special teams while he develops further and strengthens as a player.

By all indications, the pass-rushing chops are there — and the Steelers have sometimes used so-called undersized outside linebackers (think James Harrison). Herbig has the look of a player well worth a fourth-round pick as an imperfect prospect whose college résumé suggests has potential to be a starter.

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