LB Nick Herbig and the Steelers have agreed on a four-year, $100 million

But I read here that Watt’s contract would not affect them signing a player they wanted

Oh wait that was me

Damn I’m good

 

Porter will get extended for sure. Probably as a top 3 current contract at CB or something.

This pretty much guarantees that we do a full restructure on DK IMO

 

In terms of sack production (the thing that gets edge rushers paid), the decline of Watt has been a serious thing since 2023.

 

True....But if he don't bounce back this year,maybe he will be gone,depending of the structure of his contract

 

This is why I'd wait a year before deciding what to do.

Unless someone wants to overpay us for one of them. I'm always interested in receiving an over-payment.

 

I feel like 2024 was still a good year. He had 11.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, etc

Last year was a down year, but I think we let him play one more and see if he bounces back. There was a point where Cam Heyward had a down year (post 30 years old) and some thought he was washed. He followed that up by regaining form.

 

That didn't take long.

 

$25 million per season for Herbig; JPJ's number probably just went to $40 million per year.

They should have done JPJ first. Not only is he a starter, but he is one the verge of being a Top CB in the NFL.

 

The NFL is a wild place. I do know that QB and pass rusher contracts start to be values the minute after they are signed. The next guy will always get more.

I also know that I was CERTAIN. Like I would've bet your house on it, that Herbig was gonna have to kick inside in the NFL. Shows what I know.

 

Was going to post this. I’ll bet it’s structured in a way that the cap hit is minimal this year. One of Highsmith or Watt will be gone before this is really felt on the cap sheet.

 

Ummmm

They are certainly working on Porter

They can only get it done if BOTH sides agree

 

They’ll go with the three headed monster (Highsmith, TJ, Nick) one more year then likely deal Highsmith next in his 30th year for solid value while also injecting more youth into the position. I think they wanna make Watt a one helmet guy and he’ll be that one crusty ole vet they like to have in every room.

Smart move weighing risk/reward - youth/age balance. Omar’s making right move (chess) at the right time.

JPJ next….

 

I read somewhere that Watt accepted less money with his current contract out of loyalty to the team and wanting to stay

The Steelers will not and should not trade him

It would be unethical unless it is something he wants

I realize many posters here do not understand ethics or how a good business is run

I would not be surprised if his current contract has a no way Jose in it regarding a trade

 

This makes the most sense of any post here

 

Keep in n mind a “full time” player at this position would be about 2/3 (66.6666666667% approximately for the mathematically challenged)

With 3 players each taking 2/3 to keep them fresh

They have that ability now

 

I thought JPJ would come in around $25 million per year. Now after Herbig's $100 million contract JPJ will be wanting a hell of a lot more than that. Making him possibly the Highest paid CB in the league. JPJ has never been an All-Pro, so he shouldn't be at the Top making $30 million.

A lot of people are predicting JPJ will make his first All-Pro team in 2026, should the Steelers have to pay him like he has already made it to the Top???

Herbig's $25 million has completely reset the Market for JPJ.

 

Why do you think Herbig’s contract has any affect on JPJ

Two different positions

Agents and Omar will do comparisons on related contracts

Otherwise heck just pick QB and WR contracts as a basis

 

Can't compare the market of CB and edge rusher.....This is 2 complete different things

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Queen came off the field more in third down situations, and Graham has pressure packages with Herbig lining up inside and being able to move along the line of scrimmage and even switch with Watt or Herbig outside. That could seriously screw up the protections of the offenses they face. It would be a way for Herbig to get close to starter snaps and still use all three of their best pass rush weapons.

We have already heard that Payton Wilson may be set up to have a big season. He has coverage skills and elite speed. A combination of those dudes on the field with the ability of any or all of them to be coming from any direction sounds like fun to me!

I just get a feeling that there are going to be some creative juices flowing on the defensive side of the ball this coming season.

 

When Porter has a few Pro Bowls he can look for an appropriate contract

Porter is under contract for this year

Steelers do not have to do anything foolish

 

1) I agree with you that we should just wait a year and see what happens.

2) I didn't say 2024 wasn't a good year (although it was the worst full season Watt had ever had to that point since his rookie year - when he was very raw as an edge rusher).

I said it was a decline.

Here are his last three years.

19 (2023 1st) -> 11.5 (2024 t-8th) -> 7.0 (2025)

I don't know how we could classify going from 19 sacks to 11.5 as anything other than a decline. So while it was still a good year, it was also disappointing given the career he'd had to that point and how much he was being paid.

I really like Watt. If I ever buy another Jersey (I only have Ward), it will almost certainly be Watt's.

He was basically the only exciting thing about the team in the Kenny/Canada years.

But he's declined dramatically in the last 2 years.

Big 3rd contracts are huge risks. IMO we made a business decision here. And it's likely we'll be paying the piper for a while.

Hopefully, improved coverage and a different defensive play caller (sounds like they say the scheme won't change much) will force opposing QBs to hold the ball a little longer.

Not really doing anything scheme-wise to prevent opposing teams to easily negate our biggest strength on defense (super-fast passing to negate pass rush) was a huge fail by the defensive coaching staff IMO.

 

Not extending Porter now (when he has 1 year left) would be the foolish choice IMO.

Doing it now means the team has some leverage so the contract will be less than if he goes to UFA.

If we don't extend him now, we need to tag him (at next year's prices). Then probably negotiate a long term deal anyway.

You extend good players you want to keep when they have 1 year left. It's how the economics of the league is set up.

Porter is a good player.

The fact that he doesn't have a probowl should mean that we can get away with not making him the highest paid CB when he signs (or at least getting better structure if the APY is high).

Aside: It would have been interesting if Porter was a 1st round pick...but he was a 2nd rounder @ pick 32.

That would help us see where the line is for 5th year options. So far, the only players we've given the option to since it was guaranteed were 1st team all-pros (TJ and Minkah). And IIRC even TJ got screwed on the payscale which didn't change until the following year.

Presumably we'd give the option to guys who make a real probowl (not injury replacement). But we haven't had any of those.

Porter would be one step below that if he was a 1st round pick. So still just a playing time tier guy. But significantly better than the other 1st round picks we've had since the new system.

But since he was a 2nd round pick (even though it was pick 32), we won't get that data point.

 

I think Felt really resented that the team gave up on Kenny and let Najee walk. They were two of his favorite players.

So he's been pretty anti-high priced extensions since then.

We'll see if he hates it when we extend Porter too.

To be fair, he would have made the better football decision on Watt. But I think that was about business and not football.