The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the thick of one of their most important offseasons in decades. General Manager Omar Khan has done a nice job of filling a ton of the team's biggest needs. Now, with the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner, Khan has more big decisions to make; specifically in the outside linebacker room, with Nick Herbig projected to want starter-level money. Paying Herbig would leave the team paying three outside linebackers big-time money. That is a lot, especially since they can't all always be on the field at the same time consistently.
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Steelers OLB Nick Herbig celebrates a big play during a regular-season matchup against the Miami Dolphins in 2025.
Pittsburgh has the luxury of having three stars at the edge rusher position. TJ Watt may be entering his latter years in the NFL, but he is still an effective player. Alex Highsmith turns 29 in August and is in the prime of his career. In 2025, Highsmith led the Steelers with 9.5 sacks, the second time in his career he had done so. He went on, arguably, the best run of his career to end the 2025 season, looking like the superstar the team saw in 2022 when he had 14.5 sacks.
With all of these playmakers, Khan may not be able to keep all three, which means one of them may have to be traded, and it was recently reported that the team may listen to offers for two of their stars.
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Steelers edge rushers Nick Herbig, Alex Highsmith, and TJ Watt listen to the anthem before an NFL game in 2023.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently wrote an article about the expectations for the 2026 NFL Draft. He listed players who could be on the move during the draft, and named the Steelers' own Herbig and Highsmith, believing only one would be moved. Robinson also mentioned that Highsmith is the likelier candidate to be dealt, given his age and already-set contract.
"With Herbig waiting in the wings and having been very productive while rotating with Highsmith and T.J. Watt, the Steelers are expected to take some calls on Highsmith if the phone rings. As one high-level personnel executive said, 'I think they will trade one of them' [between Highsmith and Herbig],” Robinson wrote.
Herbig is just 24 and may already be the Steelers' best pass rusher. On limited snaps per game, he always seems to come up with splash plays. His potential remains unknown, given his limited snaps. With the limited sample size, it is all the more difficult to meet Herbig's desired price tag.
"Herbig really needs to be used as a full-time starter to get the best possible projection. That may happen only if the Steelers can move Highsmith in a deal. If that’s not achievable or simply not getting traction, there are going to be some teams calling about Herbig. That doesn’t mean he’s available, but other front offices sense the logjam the Steelers are dealing with."
Both Highsmith and Herbig often find themselves on the injury report, with Highsmith being the more guilty party, and those injuries gave another player more playing time. Jack Sawyer got to play more than expected in 2025 with Highsmith and Herbig missing games. Sawyer looked like a future star in his limited action. Making the idea of moving one of the two an easier pill to swallow.
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Steelers linebacker Jack Sawyer stands alongside his teammates during the National Anthem before participating in a professional football game.
Steelers' Sawyer Could Be Set For Big Season
If one of the Steelers edge rushers is moved, that would make Sawyer the third edge rusher and the first in rotation. Sawyer was a splash play merchant in his very limited action. Sawyer looked good against the run and showed flashes as a pass rusher. He had a strip sack in the team's playoff loss to the Houston Texans. Perhaps more snaps could put him in a Herbig-type situation, making him the Steelers' next great edge rusher. We will have to see what happens during the draft.
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