The Pittsburgh Steelers raised eyebrows throughout the 2023 NFL Draft once they picked Wisconsin EDGE Nick Herbig within the fourth spherical and stored him at exterior linebacker.
That alternative has confirmed to be a wise one. Although Herbig doesn’t seize headlines like T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith due to his restricted taking part in time, his efficiency when given the possibility speaks volumes.
Professional Soccer Focus analyst Jonathon Macri just lately named Herbig as probably the most underrated participant on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster.
Essentially the most underrated participant for each staff within the AFC North 👀 pic.twitter.com/K1Uq9bN7V4
— PFF (@PFF) Could 17, 2025
“Since 2022, Herbig owns a 91.4 PFF pass-rush grade, which ranks seventh amongst all edge defenders with at the least 250 pass-rush snaps. With Watt and Highsmith often lacking time resulting from damage, having a high-end cross rusher like Herbig ready within the wings is a really underrated and precious possibility that not many groups have the luxurious of,” Macri wrote in his evaluation.
Herbig wasted no time displaying his potential on the sphere. As a rookie backing up Watt and Highsmith, he recorded 27 tackles, three sacks, and compelled two fumbles.
His sophomore season in 2024 was much more spectacular, as he racked up 5.5 sacks and 4 compelled fumbles throughout 13 video games, together with 5 begins.
Even whereas coping with accidents that sidelined him for components of the season, Herbig constantly made his presence felt every time he performed.
He has successfully decreased the workload for Watt and Highsmith whereas nonetheless producing strain and making large performs because the third edge possibility.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ exterior linebacker room appears even stronger now with the addition of Ohio State standout Jack Sawyer within the fourth spherical of this 12 months’s draft.
This group would possibly quickly be acknowledged as one of the formidable linebacker items within the NFL.
Quietly growing behind established stars, Herbig represents the depth that championship-caliber groups want.
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