A year after restocking their offensive line with midlevel contracts, the Steelers will add another veteran blocker at a reasonable rate. The team is bringing in Nate Herbig, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Herbig agreed to a two-year, $8MM deal with the Steelers, with Garafolo adding there is a path to Herbig starting. Although Herbig most recently contributed with the Jets, he was in Philadelphia during Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl’s time there. Weidl believes Herbig can be a starter, and he showed as much last season.
Alijah Vera-Tucker‘s injury forced Herbig to step into a regular role as a starter, and the ex-Eagle ended up starting 11 games. Pro Football Focus slotted Herbig just outside the top 50 among guards last season, but the Steelers will bring him aboard to join an O-line featuring some similar investments.
The Steelers added guard James Daniels and center Mason Cole during the 2022 offseason, one in which they also reached a midlevel accord with right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. Neither Weidl nor GM Omar Khan were in place at that point, so the Herbig signing should be notable through this lens. The Steelers still have Daniels and fellow guard starter Kevin Dotson under contract.
Herbig also started 12 games with the Eagles in 2020, filling in for an injured Isaac Seumalo. Weidl did not leave Philadelphia until last spring and was with the team when it signed Herbig as a UDFA. The Steelers still have former third-round pick Kendrick Green as a backup guard option, but it is safe to say Herbig will be the bigger threat for a first-string role compared to the former center. Daniels also has center experience, albeit several years ago, if the Steelers want to take that route.
