Steelers Risk Explosive Outrage With Nick Herbig Trade Talk

The Pittsburgh Steelers really have all sorts of different directions they can go now that Mike McCarthy is at the helm. It came as a shock that Mike Tomlin would be walking away at the age of 53, but that is exactly what happened. Now Pittsburgh moves forward trying to figure out how to finally end a brutal playoff drought that has defined the last several years.

The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and the frustration has reached a boiling point. A proud franchise built on postseason success is stuck spinning its wheels, and patience is wearing thin. Every move this offseason carries extra weight because the expectation is clear. This team needs real results in January, not just competitive regular seasons.

One of the most interesting situations brewing is at pass rusher, according to Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo. He joined North Shore Drive on Monday with Chris Carter to discuss the possibility of Pittsburgh trading one of its edge rushers. Alex Highsmith has been mentioned often because of the rapid rise of Nick Herbig, who seems to make plays every time he steps on the field. With Highsmith and TJ Watt locked in as the starters, Fittipaldo could see Herbig being the odd man out, and if that happens, the reaction in Pittsburgh would be explosive.

"If they do decide to trade an edge rusher, and I think it would be Nick Herbig as opposed to trading one of your starters," Fittipaldo said on Monday while speaking with Carter. "Even though there's been a lot of speculation around TJ Watt, I think that would be hard to pull off."

ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently floated a wild trade idea that quickly set off alarms, suggesting the Steelers send Herbig to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for backup quarterback Tanner McKee. That proposal was met with immediate backlash. 

The idea of dealing one of the team’s most promising young defenders for a mediocre, but serviceable backup quarterback did not sit well, especially when Pittsburgh already has Mason Rudolph and could pursue far better options without sacrificing a premium trade asset.

Barnwell framed the idea as a "scratch my back, I scratch yours" scenario, but that logic falls flat in Pittsburgh. Herbig has already shown that when he is on the field, he is a game-wrecking presence who consistently creates pressure and chaos. 

At just 24 years old and under contract through the 2026 season, his upside is massive. The only thing limiting his snap count is the presence of Highsmith and Watt ahead of him, which is both a luxury and a looming roster dilemma.

Steelers Possibly Exploring Trade Options As Edge Group Depth Grows

Many believe Highsmith is the more logical trade candidate since moving him would free up cap space and clear the way for Herbig’s expanded role. Highsmith is 28 and firmly in his prime, while Herbig represents the future of the defense. It is not a perfect situation and Pittsburgh does not have to trade anyone, but if they do, Fittipaldo has suggested Herbig could be the odd man out. 

That outcome would not be popular, as the desire in Pittsburgh is clear. Keep the roster young, fast, and built around players like Herbig who look like cornerstone pieces, not trade bait. 

When it became known that Pittsburgh was hiring McCarthy at 62 years old, fans were not thrilled. Many wanted a younger coach and a true retooling of the franchise, and it does not seem like they will get that with McCarthy. To make matters worse, the team may also trade one of its best assets, a 24-year-old cornerstone player.

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