A Steelers 2026 Draft Selection Could Be Seriously Influenced By Nick Herbig

The Pittsburgh Steelers still have a lot of football left in the 2025 season, but it’s never too early to look ahead to April’s NFL Draft in the Steel City. The team will likely target a wide receiver at some point in the weekend, but the big question is who will be on the board when the front office is ready to pick. Several high-profile wideouts are helping push their teams toward the College Football Playoff, yet one of Pittsburgh's best options might be a lesser-known name who is already well-known within the Steelers' locker room. 

Many college football fans were likely surprised when they saw UConn senior Skyler Bell named as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the honor given to the best collegiate wide receiver every year. Bell might not be a household name, but one Steeler knows him very well, his former college teammate Nick Herbig.

Bell played three seasons at Wisconsin before transferring to UConn ahead of the 2024 campaign. He and Herbig were teammates in both 2021 and 2022 prior to Herbig being drafted by the Steelers in the 2023 NFL Draft.

In a recent interview with Brian Batko from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Herbig spoke about Bell.

"Since the day he stepped on campus, he was a baller,” Herbig said. “Kid works hard, got good hands, good feet, and he’s a competitor. Super competitive. He’s getting his chance to shine right now, and he’s doing what I always knew he could do.”

Some might not even be aware that UConn has a football team, nonetheless an FBS-level football team, but they've had a tremendous season. Bell has led the Huskies to a 9-3 record as they're heading to a bowl game having won four in a row. Bell has had a breakout 2025 season. After catching only 50 balls a year ago, Bell has doubled his receptions through 12 games, catching 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading the FBS in all three categories.

“It’s kind of hard not to see, man. He’s going crazy. He put in the work, and it’s gonna show," Herbig said. “That’s like my little bro. We had a special bond back in college, so I wish nothing but the best for him.”

For the Steelers, the idea of drafting a player with Bell’s work ethic and inside connections could be very appealing. Teams love prospects who not only have the raw talent, but also the character and drive to fit in immediately. 

Bell checks both boxes, and his connection with Herbig only adds another layer of familiarity for Pittsburgh. There’s an argument to be made that having a rookie who already has someone in the locker room rooting for him could make the transition to the NFL smoother, and that would only help his case more.

If the Steelers do target a wide receiver, or multiple, in the draft, Bell’s name will likely come up at some point. While he might not have the same national spotlight as other prospects, his statistics and accomplishments speak for themselves. Drafting Bell and pairing him up alongside with DK Metcalf could give the Steelers a powerful one-two punch at the wide receiver position moving forward. 

Steelers' Herbig Knows A Thing Or Two About Being Underrated

Herbig knows exactly what it’s like to be overlooked and underestimated. He came into the NFL as a third-round pick, not a household name, and has had to prove himself every step of the way. Three years later, he’s grown into one of the top defenders on the Steelers. 

Herbig sees the same grit, drive, and love for the game in Bell that helped him make his mark in Pittsburgh. Watching Bell rise up the way he has, Herbig can relate to the challenges and triumphs of proving people wrong and showing that hard work really does pay off.

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