Steelers Snag LB Nick Herbig in Fourth Round of 2023 NFL Draft

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Wisconsin linebacker Nick Herbig with the 132nd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Herbig, the younger brother of current Steelers guard Nate Herbig, played outside linebacker for the Badgers, but likely projects to be an inside linebacker in the NFL.

The 6-foot-2, 228 pound Herbig is close with current Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt and will make four former Badgers in the Pittsburgh front seven, along with defensive linemen Isaiahh Loudermilk and Keeanu Benton, the team’s second-round pick.

“Me and T.J. are pretty close, actually,” Herbig said at the 2023 NFL Combine. “I reach out to him when I need advice, and he’s always there for me. He always answers and he’s always just a call away from me; I really appreciate that guy.

“He’s always told me to make sure that I’m working harder than whoever’s in the room, to keep my head down and just stay the course.”

RELATED: Wisconsin LB Nick Herbig Looks to Follow Mentor T.J. Watt’s Footsteps

Herbig played 31 games over three seasons in Madison. He played in seven games in a COVID-19-shortened freshman season in 2020, making 26 tackles, six tackles for loss and one sack.

In 2021, he played in 13 games and racked up 64 tackles to go along with 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Last season as a junior, he suited up for just 11 contests, but had 47 tackles and career highs with 15.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

Herbig said he doesn’t know where and how the Steelers will use him. The team cleaned out its inside linebacker position this offseason, letting Myles Jack, Robert Spillane, Devin Bush and Marcus Allen leave and replacing them with Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and now Herbig. They also need depth at outside linebacker, where they need a No. 3 behind Watt and Alex Highsmith.