Welcome to the pre-draft season, Pittsburgh Steelers fans! Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27th, we will be releasing draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves in Pittsburgh. Next up…
Steelers’ Draft Prospect: Nick Herbig (Outside Linebacker), Wisconsin, Junior
OVERVIEW: While the Steelers do not necessarily have a pressing need at the outside linebacker position heading into 2023, the position’s succession plan has yet to be established for the immediate future. We know TJ Watt will be the anchor on the outside through 2025, but the opposite of him remains a mystery. There is a good chance the Steelers won’t be able to afford the services of Alex Highsmith beyond his rookie contract that expires at the end of the 2023 season. Beyond Highsmith, there isn’t much of a successor at the outside linebacker position. We’ve seen circulating reports of a possible Bud Dupree reunion in 2023, but as of where we sit today, there is still a question mark on the depth chart that has to be considered.
With there being other areas to address before the outside linebacker in the draft, the Steelers will likely be looking for value deeper in the draft. The Steelers have been sitting in somewhat of a dry spell in drafting outside linebackers since they struck gold with Highsmith in 2020. Given their relatively unique 3-4 defensive scheme, it takes the right skill set to look for when prospecting the right fit. The University of Wisconsin has found a way to successfully grow and develop that type of skillset the Steelers look for in an outside linebacker. We already saw how this has translated for Watt, so who from Watts’ alma mater is on the big board for this year? It is another brother of one of the newest additions to the organization in the form of Nick Herbig.
PROS: Herbig was a defensive force in college. He usually lined up on the left side of the line but was effective in finding gaps within the offensive line and exploiting them. Coming in from the outside, he’s able to size up the blocker, which was usually an offensive tackle, and dip his shoulders below pad level to get into the backfield. He plays with fluid movement in his arms and hips and uses his hands to maintain distance from blockers to bounce off them. Herbig has quick, agile feet to gain ground quickly against lesser-agile offensive linemen.
His game speed is also something that is seemingly a work of art. Herbig possesses a relatively average burst off the line at the snap but hits a different motor once he’s clear through the line. He also seems to find himself finishing plays around the ball and makes sure to capitalize on those opportunities. In college, Herbig posted 36 tackles for loss, 21 sacks and four forced fumbles. In his junior season last year alone, he tallied 15.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and two forced fumbles. While I try to avoid unnecessary comparisons, I find it noteworthy to mention that Watt had 15.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in the season before he was drafted 30th overall by the Steelers. On paper, he’s a perfect fit for that prototypical NFL outside linebacker role.
CONS: In making the jump to the big leagues, Herbig will need to bulk up. Measuring 6’2 and weighing 240 lbs, he is a bit undersized for what scouts look for in a day-one starter. With that limited size also comes limited play strength. Although he plays with great hand technique, his strength in working through plays and shedding blocks needs improvement. On containment plays, Herbig tends to lose his edge against bigger offensive tackles allowing his side of the line to be exposed.
To appropriately tap into his strengths, defensive coordinators would have to scheme Herbig open, essentially use him on stunts inside, and have him follow the defensive linemen into the backfield. This could pose a utility issue when considering his draft stock, as it’d take only select NFL coordinators to successfully identify and execute that. Finally, his tackling will need improvement, especially in adapting to the NFL rulebook. Herbig’s tackling technique is a bit bull-like now, where he causes chaos in the backfield and tries to grab the closest body part to him. He’ll need to learn how to wrap up the legs of the ball carrier and avoid unnecessary hits on the quarterback.
DRAFT PROJECTION: 4th Round
With not every NFL team running a 3-4 defensive scheme, that limits Herbig’s suitors right off the bat. Not to mention, he’s in a deep outside linebacker/EDGE draft class featuring the likes of Will Anderson Jr., Tyree Wilson, Nolan Smith and even Karl Brooks on the second day. With teams still looking for potential starters throughout the first three rounds, this may push Herbig’s name to Saturday, but he shouldn’t wait long from that point. He can be considered a solid fourth-round pick.
VERDICT: Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan have to be frothing at the mouth when watching Herbig. Nate Herbig was vocal in his recruitment of his younger brother in his introductory press conference last week and knows what he brings to the team. Ironically enough, this folds perfectly into what the Steelers look for in young prospects.
They obsess over tough, gritty, blue-collar playstyles and use inside information to gain as much insight as possible on unproven prospects. That inside information typically comes from another family member close to the organization, such as brother Nathan. Tomlin loves to get in at the ground floor with prospects who have a lot of potentials and cultivate them into rising defensive stars. The Steelers also value the ability to play effectively in cold weather, which drives their attention to the northern collegiate conferences. Herbig checks all of those boxes for the Steelers. If he is available at the 120th overall spot on Saturday, don’t be surprised if we hear his name called by Pittsburgh. The Herbig-to-Pittsburgh connection seems to be quite strong.
Where do you see Herbig going in April? Would you want to see him in black and gold?
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