The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just pay Nick Herbig as part of their future. Mike McCarthy made it sound like they’ve already been building part of their defensive future around him.
That’s the bigger takeaway from the whopper of an extension for Herbig. Of course, the money matters. A $100 million deal for a player who’s technically been Pittsburgh’s third outside linebacker will never not garner attention. But McCarthy’s explanation makes this more than a contract story.
“We’re excited to get Nick done,” McCarthy said. “He’s part of some of the new things we’re doing moving forward because you got to find ways to play everybody.”
That line said plenty.
Been planning on innovative plays involving Nick Herbig since January #Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy pic.twitter.com/ePOhoQRSln
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) June 3, 2026
Herbig isn’t just being kept as insurance behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. He’s being folded into the Steelers’ defensive plan in a way that suggests his role’s about to grow. Maybe significantly.
McCarthy didn’t frame this as a problem, instead as the reality of today’s NFL.
“This is not an 11-man operation, both on offense, defense, and special teams,” McCarthy said. “We want everybody to play.”
Nick Herbig’s contract creates a bigger Pittsburgh Steelers question
That all sounds great in June, but the math doesn't math for the Steelers outside linebacker room.
Herbig’s deal doesn’t kick in until next season, so Pittsburgh can still keep the band together in 2026 if it can’t find the right move. That could mean riding it out through the summer. It could even mean waiting until November’s trade deadline.
But at some point, something has to give.
It’s hard to call Herbig a backup now. Teams, especially the Steelers, don’t just hand out $100 million contracts to part-time players. That means Herbig could be headed for a starting spot on McCarthy’s first official depth chart, even if the Steelers won’t say that out loud yet.
It’s a good problem to have, but there are only so many snaps to go around.
Highsmith has long been the name most often tied to trade speculation. He’s 28, productive, and carries real value for a team needing a proven edge rusher. He’d also bring Pittsburgh cleaner financial flexibility than moving Watt.
Trading Highsmith would avoid his $14.5 million salary for 2026 while leaving cap charges of $5.6 million in both 2026 and 2027. Trading Watt would avoid $32 million in guaranteed pay for 2026, but it’d trigger a $10 million cap charge in 2026 and a $20 million charge in 2027.
Watt’s still Watt, but he’s nearing 32 and coming off a down year by his standards. Highsmith deserves better than being squeezed by a numbers game. Herbig, meanwhile, has forced his way into the conversation every time he’s been given real chances.
“You have to go play four downs in most positions, so I think this gives us a lot of flexibility with our younger players,” McCarthy said.
Flexibility is a good thing and something that Pittsburgh has long valued -- almost to a fault. For Herbig, though, it’s probably a promotion. For someone else, it could be the first hint that Pittsburgh’s edge room won’t stay crowded forever.
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