Steelers Draft Room Identifies Fierce Badgers Defender Nick Herbig As The 3rd Piece Of The Puzzle For Intriguing Edge Rotation

The selection of Herbig brings the total of Wisconsin Badgers in the Steelers front seven to four. Headlined by the incomparable TJ Watt, Isaiahh Loudermilk and now rookies Keeanu Benton and the aforementioned Herbig are on the Steelers' defense. A fifth former Badgers defender, safety Scott Nelson was on the 2022 practice squad and is expected to be in training camp in Latrobe, PA in 2023.

The Pittsburgh Steelers Find Another Dynamic Defender In Nick Herbig

The Pittsburgh Steelers introduced the fourth-round pick at a press conference held by outside linebackers coach, Denzel Martin on Saturday. He discussed the Steelers’ predilection for picking defenders from the Big Ten.

“I just think they (Wisconsin) do a good job,” Martin said. “I think they do a lot of the things we do on defense. They are smart. They know what they are looking for on the recruiting trail. It’s just attractive to us.”

Weidl was with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, a team that currently has a similar philosophy of taking the best available Georgia Bulldogs defender in the NFL Draft for the second consecutive year. The Steelers have developed an affinity for Wisconsin defenders after they observed the success of the Watt family up close.

Herbig is not as highly touted as the Steelers All-Pro edge rusher, but his high motor and above-average athleticism caught the eye of the Pittsburgh scouts. Martin was asked if the Steelers could end up using their newest piece on the inside. 

“He is definitely athletic enough to do that,” Martin answered. "But, like I said, we are going to start him at that outside backer and try to make a player out of him, a big-time player there out of him first.”

Herbig is 6'2" and weighs 240 pounds, which is a little small for the current NFL edge rusher. It was rumored that whatever team drafted him would probably try and convert him to an inside linebacker, but the Steelers and his new positional coach seem to disagree with the assessment and plan on using him at his natural position.  

“It’s always nice to get a rotation,” Ward added. “You can’t have them (Watt and Highsmith) playing all those plays. I’ve been here a couple years now and we have always been trying to find a rotational piece in that third and fourth spot. I just think he is a tough competitive guy and that is always attractive to us in this building.”

The Steelers had to live without their superstar on the edge last season for several weeks and have struggled to find an effective rotational piece since Alex Highsmith elevated to become Watt’s running mate on the outside. Herbig was a highly productive edge rusher in the Big Ten and could be another absolute steal by Khan and the Steelers at the end of the fourth round.

Herbig was overcome with emotion when he learned he would be joining his older brother in Pittsburgh as the family-themed team building continues to be the modus operandi for the Steelers. The Badgers' linebacker will have plenty of opportunity to spell the current dynamic duo on the edge for the black and gold and hopefully turn it into a terrific trio.