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

I'm not worried it will get done maybe not until training camp though.

 

I think there are now three realistic options we'll be seeing:

1) Highsmith traded - 29 y.o. when the season starts. Played some of his best football to end last season and a very reasonable contract for 2026 & 2027 ($14.5M & $15.5M for any team trading for him). Missed ten games the last two years so injuries a concern to anyone trading for him. If you find a team who thinks Edge is the missing piece then maybe you get a first, but my guess would be a second and third.

2) Watt traded - Coming off a very down year, both statistically and with weird circumstances. Aside from missing three games to dry needling, he's been durable the last three years. His contract is an albatross with $64M guaranteed the next two years. That means that any acquiring team must keep him on the books at $32M each of the next two seasons regardless of play. Meanwhile the Steelers will eat $30M on the cap - $10M this season, $20M next. I can't see any team forking over big draft capital while taking on the responsibility of the contract. Like Highsmith, maybe you find a team who believes they are that close, but it's a big mistake if their wrong, and trading Watt at this point would be the definition of selling low. If you think that a new scheme and coaching staff can unlock even a little bit of his former magic, this is a bad move.

3) Figure out a way to get all three on the field together more often. Graham has experience coaching Maxx Crosby who moved all over the front 7, can they figure out a way to move Watt around? Play Highsmith inside at times? It compensates for neither Queen or Wilson being a thumper inside and keeps the O guessing, while you get your best players on the field as much as you can. It also keeps everyone a bit fresher when you are getting everyone involved.

What I think is the right move: Go with option 3 with the thought that the D can play well and TJ returns to at least double digit sack numbers. You can then sell a little higher on him in the off-season when he has less guaranteed money on the books and depending on if AH can follow up the momentum from a strong finish to last year, you have Herbig, Highsmith who you might want to extend, and Sawyer in the wings.

 

Goodness gracious. This is gonna get ridiculous isn't it?

Me, myself, and I have confirmed that this is all just too many dude with too much time on their hands.

 

And because Watt dramatically wins if you look back 3 years.

Pretending that adding the production over three years tells a story that's relevant to this contract is not being very honest IMO.

 

I think it will happen.

But more on a similar timeline as Watt's 2nd contract.

IMO, Watt took that long because he knew the business of the NFL because his brother had been through it.

And JPJ knows because JP Sr. went through it.

 

I guess I am curious of the order of signings, thought for sure
JPJ would be signed before anybody else. We shall see.

 

We're Steelers fans. We already know all the things you're talking about here. This isn't a message he's sending to Herbig's agent to negotiate a deal. Herbig already signed his deal, and it's a good one. It's raw data to fans that already know the context of all the numbers.

I just don't get what you're getting worked up about.

 

Makes sense since he plays the 2nd highest paid position. So it would happen at edge after QB but before other positions.

And edge is rotational.

Not a starter, but here are the snap counts from last year:

• Herbig: 610 (up almost 200 from 2024)
• Highsmith: 634 (down something like 380 form 2024)
• Watt: 812 (down ~ 125 from 2024).

So he's not a starter, but only played 24 fewer snaps than Highsmith.

Montez Sweat has an APY of $24.5mm. He had 780 snaps in 2025. And 616 in 2024. He signed his deal before the 2023 season. In 2022, he had 731 snaps. More, but not crazily more.

Odafe Oweh has an APY of $24mm. He also just signed, so is probably a pretty good comp for Herbig (although he's 28 compared to Herbig's 25). He had 513 snaps last year (divided between BAL and LAC). That's less playing time than Herbig. Not sure if he was a starter in either of those places. But his contract is "only" $96mm, so it technically doesn't count here. He had no INTs (Herbig 1), same sacks, fewer tackles (total and combines), fewer TFL, fewer FFs (zero to Herbig's 3).

Basically Herbig's closest comp is Oweh. But Herbig played more and had more production. Herbig is also younger. We paid $1mm/year more for Herbig than Oweh. Which doesn't seem unreasonable since he seems to be a better player.

 

Waa just thinking the same thing. Some feel Herbig would get swallowed up by DL because of his short arms. But he has the burst to move past them.

 

MM hinted at #3 today.

 

Suspicious is correct.

Recall that the Browns were vehement in not moving Myles Garrett. Just goes to show that words are only as good as the people that state them. In Highsmiths Defense, Pittsburgh is a largely franchise that treats its players like gold.


Cleveland had a golden opportunity in Baker Mayfield and effed that up completely.

 

Hence why such people like Ray are why I consider modern journalism as a joke.

Too much narcissistic behavior and not enough honesty nor integrity.