The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed linebacker Nick Herbig to a five-year, $100 million contract extension. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk praised the team for completing the deal ahead of schedule.
The agreement positions Herbig as a key part of the Steelers' defense for the next five seasons. Florio noted that acting early helps control costs in a rising market for pass rushers. The Steelers do deserve credit for getting ahead of this with Herbig, Florio said. He added that the move sends a positive message to the locker room about rewarding performance promptly. Herbig has recorded 16 sacks and 85 pressures in 1,216 career defensive snaps. The extension comes after the team faced criticism for delays on T.J. Watt's prior deal. The contract carries some risk given Herbig's history of hamstring injuries and limited starting snaps. Still, the team views the timing as prudent before his value potentially rises further.
