Nate Herbig Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers OL is team's most underrated free agent signing

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 3/15/23

The Steelers have already made a number of moves to start free agency but one quiet signing may turn out to be the best out of the bunch.

Pittsburgh agreed to sign G Nate Herbig to a two-year, $8 million contract yesterday and he may just end up as one of the team's starting guards by the start of the 2023 season.

The #Steelers have agreed to terms with G Nate Herbig on a two-year deal worth $8 million with $4 million guaranteed, source says. Pittsburgh assistant GM Andy Weidl was in Philly when Herbig was with the #Eagles and believes in him as a starter.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2023

The Steelers' new assistant general manager Andy Weidl was in Philadelphia when Herbig was with the Eagles two years ago and believes in him as a starter.

Herbig won't be handed the starting job in Pittsburgh, but he could certainly earn it as 2022 starting G Kevin Dotson struggled this season. Dotson allowed four sacks and was penalized 12 times, according to Pro Football Focus, compared to Herbig allowing just one sack and being penalized four times.

The 24-year-old is also a massive 6-foot-4, 334 pounds and had the sixth-highest run block win rate among all guards in 2022.

New #Steelers iOL Nate Herbig had the sixth-highest run block win rate in 2022 of all guards in the NFL, per ESPN Analytics.
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) March 14, 2023

Former NFL offensive lineman A.Q. Shipley sees Herbig's potential and loves the direction the Steelers are heading. "I like the way he plays," Shipley said on "The Pat McAfee Show. "This is a Steelers lineman of old."

Only time will tell, but Pittsburgh may have just found the next pillar on its offensive line for years to come.

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