Steelers trade proposal sends Nick Herbig to NFC powerhouse

Q: Why is Nick Herbig being targeted for a trade by the San Francisco 49ers?

Nick Herbig is considered a prime trade target due to his potential and the 49ers' need for linebacker depth.

Q: What changes are happening within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization in 2026?

The Steelers are experiencing a coaching overhaul with a new head coach and nearly an entirely new coaching staff, alongside active participation in free agency.

Q: Who are the notable players the Steelers acquired during the 2026 free agency period?

The Steelers brought in notable players including Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Jaquan Brisker, and traded for wide receiver Michael Pittman.

Dublin , Ireland - 28 September 2025; Linebacker Nick Herbig #51 of Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2025 NFL International Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images) | Sportsfile via Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone through many a change in 2026. For the first time since 2007, they will have a new head coach on the sideline, which also comes with an almost completely new coaching staff.

The Steelers were also one of the most active teams in the league in free agency, bringing in notable stars such as Jamel Dean, Rico Dowdle, Jaquan Brisker, and trading for wide receiver Michael Pittman. With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, the Steelers could be a team to watch in terms of making a draft day trade.

In a recent piece for Fox Sports, Ralph Vacchiano named one player every NFC team should trade for, and he labeled Nick Herbig as the prime trade target for the San Francisco 49ers.

“Their pass rush was completely punchless last season, with Bryce Huff leading the team with just four sacks,” Vacchiano writes. “They are hopeful that both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will be healthy and back in their old form next season, but they could use another body in the rotation. Herbig, 24, is stuck in a rotation behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Pittsburgh and in the final year of his contract. He had 13 sacks in a limited role over the past two seasons and would be well worth the high pick it would probably cost for the Steelers to swap him.”

The Steelers are in an interesting spot with their edge rushers, as they gave T.J. Watt a record-breaking extension last year. Additionally, Herbig is due for an extension, as he is set to become a free agent in 2027.

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