With summer quickly approaching, the Steelers have gathered for mandatory minicamp this week. As is the case for many an NFL minicamp, attention is now turning to which players will receive contract extensions — and which ones won’t.
For the members of the Steelers’ 2023 draft class, the time has come for the team to decide which players are worth anteing up for to retain their services. Pittsburgh has seemingly already made that choice on former first-round pick Broderick Jones when they declined
to exercise his fifth-year option. But several other players who were selected during Omar Khan’s first draft still await their paydays: cornerback Joey Porter Jr., defensive lineman Keeanu Benton, tight end Darnell Washington, guard Spencer Anderson, and pass rusher Nick Herbig.
Herbig’s will-they-won’t-they dance with the Steelers this summer is one of the most anticipated across the NFL right now. With the Steelers already committed contractually to T.J. Watt through 2028 and Alex Highsmith through 2027, teams looking for pass-rushing talent are hoping the Steelers fail to reach an agreement with Herbig, who is already expected to have a competitive market should he reach free agency.
While awaiting movement on contract talks, Herbig is at minicamp, but he is not fully participating.
It’s a common tactic for players in his position, and shouldn’t be taken as anything out of the ordinary, at least for now. Football is a dangerous sport, and Herbig is fully within his rights to protect his body — his money maker — while waiting for a financial commitment from the team.
In a media scrum after practice, Herbig made his intentions clear. He wants to be a Steeler, but he knows the NFL is a cutthroat business.
“I’m a football player. I’m here for football,” Herbig said when asked about his situation, and if he’d received any advice from Watt. “I try to keep business separated from football as much as I can.”
The Steelers will make their decision one way or another, and even without a new contract, Herbig is more than likely to suit up for the Steelers in 2026. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, players can be fined for skipping these mandatory minicamps, which is why you see so many players “hold-in.” Fines for absences become even costlier once training camp opens up later this summer, and players risk losing even more money if they drag out holdouts into the regular season. Players typically have very little leverage in these types of negotiations.
For what it’s worth, head coach Mike McCarthy has had Herbig’s back, saying the young player is doing what he needs to do to be involved while navigating this tricky side of the business.
Herbig has 16 sacks, 81 pressures, and eight forced fumbles in three seasons with the Steelers in a mostly reserve role. Last season, he set career highs in sacks (7.5 ), pressures (47), and snaps (610).
Per Sportrac, the Steelers are currently projected to have roughly $39.4 million in cap space for 2027, ranked 16th in the NFL.
Should the Steelers re-sign Nick Herbig with a big contract? Will they need to move on from T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith after the season? Let us know what you think in the comments!
