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PFF gives the title of most underrated player on the Pittsburgh Steelers to a third-year player approaching a breakout season

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated May 20, 2025 1:43 PM ET

After drafting Jack Sawyer in the fourth round of last month's NFL Draft , there is an argument to be made that the Pittsburgh Steelers have the best pass-rushing quartet in the NFL.

The headliners are T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but the backups of Sawyer and Nick Herbig round out the group.

And according to PFF, the latter of that group deserves more attention...

PFF names Nick Herbig the most underrated player on the Steelers

Herbig isn’t going to get the same recognition as T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith along the Steelers' defensive line, and part of that has to do with his much lower snap share, but it’s worth noting how well he has performed when he is given an opportunity.

Since 2022, Herbig owns a 91.4 PFF pass-rush grade, which ranks seventh among all edge defenders with at least 250 pass-rush snaps. With Watt and Highsmith occasionally missing time due to injury, having a high-end pass rusher like Herbig waiting in the wings is a very underrated and valuable option that not many teams have the luxury of.

- Jonathon Macri, PFF

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I say this fully realizing that Herbig has only started five games in his career...He would be a starter on the Steelers and all other 31 NFL teams if he was afforded the opportunity.

Across those five starts last season, he recorded 5.5 sacks, and FOUR forced fumbles. Pound for pound, rep for rep, he is one of the deadliest, most explosive and most efficient pass rushers we have in this league.

Nick Herbig pic.twitter.com/PGKh57ikpl
— Steelers Black and Gold Nation - Off-season (@B_GNation1) May 16, 2025

He's certainly no T.J. Watt and he doesn't have the complete game against run that Alex Highsmith has, but confusing his lack of full-time action with him not being starter worthy would be a grave mistake.

And if things go to plan for the Steelers in 2025, Herbig still won't start because Watt and Highsmith will be healthy enough to play and start in all 17 games on Pittsburgh's schedule.

But year three should still be a breakout for Highsmith. He should receive more snaps as the team looks to keep Watt and Highsmith fresh, and I fully expect him to take advantage of those snaps and get close to, if not surpass double-digit sacks, while continuing his trend of forcing fumbles.

So yea, Herbig likely is the most underrated player on the Steelers roster.