Nick Herbig

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		45	79	16.0	1
2025		15	30	7.5	1
2024		13	22	5.5	0
2023		17

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2025		15	30	7.5	1	—	C- C- Below average
2024		13	22	5.5	0	—	D- D- Bottom 12%
2023		17	27	3.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Spotrac flags Nick Herbig's contract as a market-rate deal; FanVerdicts grades it B- Contract Value Index because the production-to-pay ratio shakes out accordingly. At $1.128M AAV on a four-year rookie scale deal, Herbig's contract is exceptionally affordable for a third-year linebacker generating legitimate trade interest from contenders—the kind of structural value that makes teams like Dallas circle him on their acquisition boards. His 2025 season production of 30 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 1 interception across 15 games confirms he's developed into a quality starter capable of impactful plays, including the 13-yard sack against Baltimore that caught league-wide attention. Where the CVI lands in B- territory rather than higher is the tension between his on-field capability and the organizational uncertainty hanging over Pittsburgh's defensive room under Mike McCarthy—recent roster moves suggest the Steelers are in evaluation mode, creating questions about Herbig's long-term fit despite his clear value as a productive edge rusher. At 24 years old with three seasons in the league already, Herbig is past the pure prospect phase but still operating on highly favorable rookie-scale terms, which creates a favorable asymmetry if he sustains his performance. The contract itself carries minimal risk for Pittsburgh, but the real test will be whether the Steelers retain him through the duration or whether his trade appeal accelerates an earlier departure.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Nick's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Snap share and per-play impact line up to a C+ performance grade for Nick Herbig. The 24-year-old third-year linebacker sits in the above-average range for edge rushers—productive enough to generate legitimate trade interest from contenders, but not quite at the elite tier that would make him a non-negotiable cornerstone piece. His 2025 season delivered 30 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and an interception across 15 games, marking solid output that reflects his role as a quality starter capable of situational impact—that 13-yard sack against Baltimore being the kind of clutch play that catches the attention of evaluators league-wide. The interception suggests some versatility in his skill set, though his sack total represents his primary value driver rather than consistent game-wrecking dominance. As a fourth-round pick from the 2023 draft still operating on his rookie-scale contract, Herbig is in the window where he's proving he belongs in the league as a dependable contributor, yet the broader narrative around Pittsburgh's edge rusher depth and uncertainty under new head coach Mike McCarthy creates organizational risk that tempers his trajectory. His off-field reputation remains clean, with community engagement through hometown camps reinforcing his professional standing, but on-field consistency will ultimately determine whether he graduates from capable starter to franchise-caliber defensive cornerstone.

How Nick Compares at the Position

Nick Herbig ranks 125th of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Nick between Jamil Muhammad (C+) just ahead and Malik Harrison (C+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Nick Herbig has carved out a solid reputation as a capable edge rusher who's generating legitimate trade interest from contenders, earning him a B+ sentiment grade. His on-field production speaks for itself—clutch plays like his 13-yard sack against Baltimore have caught the attention of evaluators across the league, with teams like the Cowboys reportedly showing interest in his services. The media frames Herbig as a quality starter whose community engagement and clean off-field reputation add to his appeal, making him an attractive trade target for teams seeking defensive depth. However, the narrative around Pittsburgh's defensive room under new head coach Mike McCarthy creates some uncertainty about organizational direction, with reports suggesting the Steelers may struggle to retain their entire edge rusher group. While Herbig is viewed as a productive, dependable starter with clear trade value, these lingering questions about roster construction and his long-term fit prevent him from reaching elite perception status. The consensus portrays him as a solid building block who could thrive in the right system, but organizational uncertainty keeps his ceiling capped at above-average perception.