The Steelers have a new offensive lineman, agreeing to terms with Nate Herbig on a two-year contract worth $8 million, and $4 million of the contract is guaranteed. And, if things don’t work out, the Steelers can get out of the agreement after this season.
But, expect things to work out, and this looks like a very solid move for the Steelers.
What are they getting in Herbig? He grew up in Hawaii and went to Stanford, where he was a freshman All-American at left guard. He was a three-year starter at Stanford -- almost all at guard -- before declaring early for the NFL draft. But, Herbig was not drafted.
A huge reason he went undrafted was a very poor showing at the Combine. Herbig ran a 5.41 in the 40-yard dash, and his jumps and change of direction results were also pretty rough. But, Herbig weighed in at 335 pounds and looks to have slimmed down a bit since. Herbig stands 6' 3 ½" and always will be a thick, powerful human being, but he carries his weight now better than he did when entering the league.
Herbig’s first three seasons were with the Eagles. He only played three snaps as a rookie, but over the past three years, the last one with the Jets, Herbig has averaged 694 snaps per season, including 894 in 2020 -- many of which on an elite Eagles offensive line. This past year for New York, Herbig played 706 snaps. All of those snaps were at right guard. Herbig has played sparingly at center, but he is a true guard.
Herbig allowed just one sack this past season with the Jets, but his forte is moving people in the run game. He has a nastiness to his game, loves to finish blocks and has a real mauling style. He even earned the nickname, "Nasty Nate," from his Jets teammates because of how he plays.
Here is a good breakdown of a fine showing by Herbig at right guard in 2020 against Washington:
Herbig is widely considered as a smart young man with an infectious personality. He is only 24 years old, the same age as some players coming into the league in this upcoming draft. Herbig doesn’t have a real high ceiling, but it is safe to think that his best football is ahead of him as he continues to mature and hone his technique.
But where does he fit in with the Steelers? Considering his contract and track record, it seems logical to assume that the left guard will be a competition between Herbig and Kevin Dotson. Dotson’s best games have been quite impressive for the Steelers, but there has also been a lot of inconsistency week to week with him.
Remember last year in training camp when Dotson battled Kendrick Green for that left guard spot? That seems like a million years ago considering where Green is now in his career. But, you can see why the Steelers coaching staff might have some questions about Dotson, whose contract expires after this season.
At minimum, Herbig could be the Steelers' third guard when the season opens and possibly Dotson’s successor if he leaves via free agency a year from now. The Steelers' offense as a whole, and specifically the offensive line, was remarkably healthy last season. Surely, they will need to test their depth more so in 2023. No team or unit stays that healthy in consecutive seasons.
What else does this signing tell us? Maybe this is looking into things a bit too much, but signing such a player also implies that the Steelers offense should remain run-based and should stress physicality, winning at the point of attack and wearing down opposing defenses. That all adds up considering the age of their quarterback as well as the success this approach had during the second half of the 2022 season. It is noteworthy that the Steelers didn’t sign a sub 300-pound player that relies on quickness and movement skills. They signed a brawler.
Might the Steelers sign another free agent offensive lineman? It is possible, and Matt Feiler was just released by the Chargers. He could be worth reaching out to as another guard/right tackle. But, chances are the Steelers are done spending on the offensive line before the draft.
It also implies that the Steelers will not be in the guard market in this draft either. Mason Cole and Dan Moore could potentially move to guard if needed. James Daniels is entrenched at right guard and is the Steelers' best lineman on offense. If the planets aligned perfectly during the draft, the Steelers might grab a center that they just couldn’t believe was still available, but most likely, Cole’s backup will be J.C. Hassenauer.
Daniels and Herbig (barely) also have a history of playing center if needed as well, particularly in case of emergency. Drafting an offensive tackle should still very much be in play, maybe even in the first round, but more likely on the second day of the draft. That would give the Steelers six capable starters, a rookie left tackle with upside and Hassenauer. Then they could look to add further depth on the cheap.
While that isn’t a star-studded lineup full of Pro Bowl-caliber players, it should remain a league average offensive line even though the Steelers, relatively speaking, don’t have a ton invested in this group in terms of cash, salary cap space and draft resources.
Adding Herbig is not an earth-shattering move, but it still makes a lot of sense. He is a young ascending player and very well could develop into a real fan favorite in Pittsburgh. Herbig is also a pretty good dancer.
Oh, Nate’s brother, Nick Herbig, is a draftable 3-4 outside linebacker from Wisconsin that could also play on the second level of the defense. Maybe you’ve noticed, but the Steelers do tend to pay attention to such things. Could there be another brother tandem on the horizon?
