News broke that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Nick Herbig to a massive contract extension. It could be viewed as a risky decision to commit to the young edge rusher, considering he has not yet served as a full-time starter with the team. However, he has capitalized on every opportunity he has been given, and increased playing time should only boost his production.
This move also raises important questions about the long-term outlook at the position.
Right now, the Steelers are loaded at outside linebacker. After extending Herbig, Pittsburgh has committed a significant portion of its future salary cap to its edge rushers. That group includes T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and now Nick Herbig. It once made sense for the team to wait until after the season to choose between Highsmith and Herbig, but that approach has changed.
The Cleveland Browns just traded Myles Garrett, so it is not out of the question that T.J. Watt could be dealt as well.
The challenge is that Watt carries a massive cap hit, is getting older, and has seen his production decline, whereas Garrett is coming off some of the best seasons of his career. The difference in trade value between Watt and Highsmith could push the Steelers toward a difficult and nearly unimaginable decision.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have to choose between T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith after Nick Herbig's extension
It is hard to imagine that the Steelers were once deciding between keeping either Nick Herbig or Alex Highsmith. That line of thinking is now out the window as the team heads into the preseason. Moving T.J. Watt still seems unlikely due to his current trade value, but it is not impossible. A deal should not be expected this year, though it could become a consideration once the season comes to an end.
This could truly be the final contending season for Pittsburgh’s veteran core.
It is hard to ignore that Highsmith proved to be the younger and more effective option when compared to Watt last season. That said, Watt still carries superstar status, and opposing offenses consistently build their game plans around slowing him down. That attention has given his teammates plenty of opportunities to make plays.
Trading Watt would only make sense if another team is willing to take on his massive contract and pay a steep price, even if he does not bounce back this season. Sometimes, a big name alone can be enough to attract interest around the league. While Highsmith may appear to be the clear candidate to be moved by the Steelers after this upcoming season, it is far from a guarantee.
The Steelers' lack of a major quarterback contract has created cap space to invest in the team’s edge rushers, but that approach may not be sustainable long term.
Signing Nick Herbig helps establish a clearer path forward with their pricey group of outside linebackers. Both T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith will need to perform at a high level this season, or they could become trade candidates. At the end of the day, there is only so much money available under the salary cap.
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