Few rookies have been stronger in the preseason than Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig. This is even more impressive when you consider that the Steelers took Herbig in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL draft.
In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Herbig is the highest-graded rookie in the preseason among players not drafted in the first round. PFF has Herbig with a 90.6 grade.
Herbig has 22 pass-rush snaps. He has four pressures, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. That works out to a 22.7% pass rush win rate. Those are elite numbers.
In the regular season, Herbig figures to be the primary backup for T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith and a regular part of the pass-rush rotation. Herbig might be more of a situational type of player as opposed to an every-down outside linebacker early in his career. It’s obvious the Steelers love those Wisconsin pass rushers.
