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Nick Herbig's $100 million extension could open the door to T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers locked up one of their ascending players on a multi-year extension on Tuesday.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers are signing edge rusher Nick Herbig to a four-year contract extension worth $100 million with $42 million guaranteed.
"Edge Nick Herbig and the Pittsburgh Steelers reached agreement today on a four-year, $100 million dollar extension that includes $42 million guaranteed," Schefter reported.
Herbig has improved every year for the Steelers since entering the league in 2023, and tallied 7.5 sacks and 47 quarterback pressures in a rotational role last season.
With Herbig only getting better and Pittsburgh investing $25 million annually in the 24-year-old pass rusher, it could open the door to a possible shake-up in the Steelers' edge-rusher room.
T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith trade could be on the table
With Herbig now on a big-money deal, the Steelers have a lot of money tied to three players at the same position. Just last offseason, T.J. Watt signed a three-year extension worth $123 million with Pittsburgh, keeping him under contract until 2029.
Alex Highsmith is also on a lucrative four-year contract worth $68 million, and that doesn't expire until 2028.
It doesn't make much sense for the Steelers to pay three edge rushers premium money, so the team could look to deal one of them. With Herbig still young and just signing his new contract, he won't be in any trade discussions, so that leaves Watt or Highsmith.
Though it might sound crazy, trading Watt over Highsmith would make more sense. Though Watt is a future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest defensive players of his generation, he showed signs of decline in 2025, and Highsmith did outperform him.
Additionally, the Steelers would save $32 million by trading Watt sometime this summer. The eight-time Pro Bowler carries a $42 million cap hit in 2026.
Overall, Watt's best days are behind him, so trading the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year to clear the way for Herbig is a move the Steelers could make sooner than you think. Pittsburgh could opt to trade Highsmith instead, but the Charlotte product is younger and had a nice season in 2025 with 9.5 sacks and 44 quarterback pressures.
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