Tim Benz: After Nick Herbig’s big raise, Steelers must trade an OLB or start playing all 3 at once
On Tuesday afternoon, reports surfaced that Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig signed a four-year, $100 million contract. It is believed to include $42 million guaranteed.
ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported that Herbig is “thought to be the first non-quarterback to surpass $100 million without starting an entire NFL season in his career.”
Meanwhile, one of Pittsburgh’s starting OLBs, T.J. Watt, has $64 million in guaranteed salary remaining on his contract over 2026 and 2027.
While not guaranteed, the other OLB starter, Alex Highsmith, is scheduled to receive $41 million over the next two years.
That’s potentially $147 million to be paid out to three outside linebackers.
To make that investment worthwhile, the Steelers have to figure out a way to get all three of those OLBs on the field at the same time.
The previous coaching administration under Mike Tomlin paid lip service to that idea (as he did when Melvin Ingram was the third OLB), but it rarely happened.
Before the contract was announced Tuesday, Herbig was asked if the current coaching staff views him as a starter. Herbig answered, “Yeah.”
The 24-year-old was also asked if the current coaching staff would play him more often. “I guess we’ll have to find out,” he replied.
Well, they’d better. Otherwise, that’s a colossal waste of money.
Herbig’s snap count jumped from 415 in 2024 to 610 in 2025 (50% to 60%). That was aided by starting six games due to injuries to Highsmith and Watt, which, based on their histories, is likely to happen again. Herbig also missed just two games as opposed to four the prior season.
One option is to use Herbig more frequently as the left outside linebacker and move Watt around the defensive front to get different looks, instead of constantly fighting through double teams over right tackle. That’s another topic that’s been discussed over the years but has rarely materialized.
“Trust me, we got some stuff cooking,” new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said in April when asked about Watt’s usage and potentially using three outside linebackers.
Another option could be deploying Herbig as a pass rusher from the inside linebacker position. That’s something the Steelers did well with Chad Brown early in his career before he bounced outside full-time back in the 1990s.
That’s an idea I’ve advanced numerous times.
Prior to the news of Herbig’s new deal, coach Mike McCarthy was asked if the team is using minicamp to look at ways to get Herbig involved in different ways — or at least more frequently.
“We have been doing that,” McCarthy said. “Nick is excited about being here. We’ll definitely highlight the packages for Nick, both this week and next week.”
If you are rolling your eyes right now and saying, “Yeah, heard that before,” I can’t blame you. You have. And you haven’t seen it manifest enough.
Maybe the overwhelming amount of money being thrown at these three players finally forces the Steelers to use them simultaneously.
Remember that scene in “Moneyball” when Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) traded away Carlos Pena so manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) couldn’t start him instead of Scott Hatteberg?
Perhaps this is the reverse effect. This could be a situation where Omar Khan is paying these three outside linebackers such a high percentage of the team’s salary cap that the defensive coaches will create three-OLB schemes out of sheer obligation.
Or Khan could trade Highsmith or Watt. That may be easier, more cost-effective and expeditious. For a team that may be looking to acquire draft picks in an effort to move up for a quarterback in 2027, that would aid efforts in that regard as well.
Either way, according to ProFootballReference.com, Herbig failed to play 40% of the defensive snaps six times. That included the Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens (25%) and the playoff game against the Houston Texans (38.2%).
For $100 million, that can simply never happen again.
