Steelers Need More From Their Offseason Payday Defenders

Sep 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) takes the field to play the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Steelers Need More From Their Offseason Payday Defenders

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jobe Morrison | Last updated Oct 6, 2026 4:00 PM ET

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One of the sticking points for fans regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers trading away Joey Porter Jr. is the fact that the team paid the rest of his draft classmates. Specifically, Keeanu Benton and Nick Herbig both received significant contract extensions. Both have made a knack for making plays for the Steelers defense over the past few seasons.

Though Benton and Herbig are grading out well on Pro Football Focus and have made a handful of plays, some fans may be wondering whether they are currently living up to their contracts. After all, both defenders now make hefty salaries and are expected to play significant roles in Pittsburgh’s defense.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo appeared on 93.7 The Fan and said he thought the pair of fourth-year defenders needed to do more in Week 4. Based on how the game unfolded, it is certainly easy to understand why he and some fans feel Benton and Herbig aren’t making enough of an impact.

“[The Steelers are] paying [Nick Herbig] a lot of money. They’re paying Keeanu Benton a lot of money. And I thought Deshaun Watson for the first three quarters just had way too much time to sit back there and to try to pick apart that undermanned Steeler secondary … There were other times, man, where he just sat back there for three, four, sometimes even five seconds making plays back there.” Fittipaldo said.

Benton and Herbig Have Made Plays, but Steelers Need Even More

Benton entered Week 4 with one of the highest grades among defensive tackles, recording eight tackles, five pressures, and two run stuffs. On Thursday night, he recorded two more run stuffs but earned just a 28.5 grade against the run and registered only one pressure. It wasn’t the best performance from Pittsburgh’s defense overall.

Herbig has produced four pressures, six run stuffs, and one forced fumble on his snaps this season. So far, he has not recorded a sack. Neither defender has exactly lit up the stat sheet, but Herbig’s early-season trajectory is particularly concerning. There is no doubt he can make an impact, but the Steelers need that impact to come more consistently.

The Wisconsin Brothers Are the Future of This Defense

Sep 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles against Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

More importantly, Benton and Herbig represent the future of this defense, and fans know exactly who they want to see the duo replicate. They have massive shoes to fill, with T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward serving as the gold standard. Fair or not, that is who Herbig and Benton will likely be compared to, respectively.

Like it or not, these two are going to become cornerstones of this defense, for better or worse. That is especially true with Porter now shipped out of town. It is time for Benton and Herbig to return to the level they showed in 2025 and remind everyone why the Steelers made such a significant investment in them.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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