Okay, so picture this: the Steelers, right? They go and pick Nick Herbig in the 2023 draft. Fourth round. Wisconsin EDGE. They stick him at outside linebacker, and everyone’s like, “Wait, what?” But, hey, smart move. Sure, he’s not a household name like T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith—yet—but when he actually gets on the field, wow, does he deliver.
Pro Football Focus guy Jonathon Macri—have you heard of him?—he recently tagged Herbig as the most underrated guy on the Steelers’ roster. Like, out of nowhere, this guy’s making waves. In the AFC North, they said! Crazy, huh?
Anyway—wait, let me get back to his play. Herbig’s pass-rush grade hits a whopping 91.4 since 2022. That’s seventh among EDGE defenders with 250 pass-rush snaps. Yeah, seventh. Even when Watt and Highsmith are out, Herbig’s right there. Underrated? Definitely.
And how about those stats? As a rookie, dude, he racks up 27 tackles, three sacks, and forces two fumbles. Not too shabby backing those big names. Then boom—sophomore year? 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in just 13 games. Injuries, schminjuries—he still makes it happen whenever he’s on the field.
What’s wild—no, really—is how he lets Watt and Highsmith breathe easier, so to speak. He picks up the slack without missing a beat. And now, with Jack Sawyer joining the crew? Ohio State standout, no less. This linebacker group is looking seriously solid—like a fortress.
Herbig’s that guy quietly building up the team behind the stars. Feels like the kind of depth any championship team craves, doesn’t it? Can the Steelers get even stronger? With this crew, they’re certainly shaping up to be a powerhouse, if you ask me.
Oh, did I mention they signed three players on Monday? But let’s not get sidetracked. Herbig is where it’s at right now.
