The Pittsburgh Steelers made major headlines on Tuesday by signing rising star edge rusher Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million contract extension. The move immediately sparked debate across Steeler Nation, as fans and analysts tried to make sense of how Herbig, who currently sits behind TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith on the depth chart, is now set to earn more than Highsmith. When Pittsburgh selected Herbig in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, few expected him to develop into this caliber of player so quickly, but every opportunity he's received has resulted in impact plays, making the extension an easy decision for the organization.
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Steelers tight end Darnell Washington grips a football while getting warmed up on the field before a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Herbig is not the only member of that 2023 draft class who could be in line for a new deal. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is another key young piece the Steelers will eventually need to reward, while tight end Darnell Washington has also generated discussion regarding a possible extension.
Washington has steadily become one of the team's most valuable offensive contributors and remains an important part of Pittsburgh's long-term plans even in this new scheme with Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio.
According to Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, Washington declined to speak with the media on Tuesday and appeared unhappy. Kaboly seemed to sound as if he was speculating rather than reporting anything definitive, but he noted that Washington's decision not to speak was unusual enough to raise questions.
Whether it is connected to contract discussions or something else entirely remains unclear, but the situation was notable enough to leave Kaboly wondering if there could be more happening behind the scenes.
"Hey, there was one guy there today who decided he did not want to talk to the media today. You know what his name was? Darnell Washington," Kaboly said. "Maybe he is under the impression that he is not getting signed right now, so maybe it's Joey Porter Jr. and then they are done for the year. Maybe they can't afford it."
Kaboly was discussing Washington's situation when fellow Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo weighed in on the conversation. Fittipaldo appeared to echo many of the same observations that Kaboly had just made.
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Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
His comments added further context to the discussion surrounding Washington's absence from the media session. In doing so, Fittipaldo seemed to lend additional credibility to Kaboly's speculation about the situation.
"That's a great point because they already paid Chris Boswell, and Joey Porter is going to cost more than Nick Herbig, I think," Fittipaldo said. "...How much money is left to go around? I think Keeanu Benton and Washington are going to get the short end of the stick... Maybe they have seen the writing on the wall, and maybe they have talked to their agents."
Steelers Insiders Speculate That 2 Players Will Be Gone After 2026
That 2023 draft class was Omar Khan's first as the Steelers' general manager, and he did a pretty impressive job with it. In fact, he did such a good job that he is now being forced to make some difficult decisions about which young players the organization can afford to keep long term. Khan has built a reputation for finding ways to navigate the salary cap and creating financial flexibility when it seems impossible.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks out to the crowd and takes it all in as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice being held at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
In this case, however, the situation could be much trickier. That's why Kaboly and Fittipaldo believe Keeanu Benton and Washington may have already spoken with their agents and realized that this could be their final season in Pittsburgh. Whether there is any truth to that speculation remains to be seen, but it is certainly a storyline worth monitoring as the Steelers continue locking up key pieces from that draft class.
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