Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig enters the final year of his contract amid trade speculation. FOX Sports analyst Ralph Vacchiano proposed sending him to the San Francisco 49ers for draft picks, while beat writers predict he may depart after 2026. Post-Gazette reporters offered differing views on potential deals involving the team's edge rushers.
Nick Herbig, 24, recorded 13 sacks over the past two seasons in a limited role behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Last year, he notched a career-high 7.5 sacks and 47 pressures, grading as a top-20 pass rusher per Pro Football Focus. With his rookie deal expiring after 2026, questions swirl about his long-term fit in Pittsburgh's crowded rotation. The Steelers hold 12 draft picks this year and have explored extensions, but Herbig may seek a starting opportunity elsewhere, according to reports from local beat writers Ray Fittipaldo and Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fittipaldo, speaking on 93.7 The Fan Morning Show, said, “This is probably his final year in Pittsburgh,” suggesting the team might draft another edge rusher anticipating his exit. He noted little interest in trading Highsmith to clear room for Herbig. Dulac hinted in his weekly chat that any trade for future picks would involve “someone ahead of him” on the depth chart, pointing away from Herbig and toward Watt or Highsmith. FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano proposed a specific deal: Herbig to the 49ers for their 2026 second-round pick (No. 58 overall) and a 2027 conditional fifth-rounder. “Herbig... would be well worth the high pick it would probably cost for the Steelers to swap him,” Vacchiano wrote. Herbig attended the offseason program and has praised playing with Watt and Highsmith, leaving his intentions unclear as new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham evaluates lineup options.
