“Getting picky” in the NFL draft can get teams in trouble. Fast.
The Pittsburgh Steelers know this well. As Art Rooney Jr. relayed in Ruanaidh, in the mid-70’s the Steelers started passing on superior talent at positions where they felt their roster was too well stocked to justify making picks.
- When you’re winning 4 Super Bowls in 6 years, it is easy to rationalize that mentality.
But going from drafting Bennie Cunningham and Robin Cole in the first round to picking Greg Hawthorne and Mark Malone in a five-year span has a sobering effect.
- Outside linebacker is easily the deepest position on the Steelers roster.
But the question remains, can the Steelers afford to be “picky” at outside linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft?
This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.
T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com
Steelers Outside Linebacker Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters
The conversation about outside linebacker and the Pittsburgh Steelers begins with T.J. Watt. In just nine years, Watt already has the franchise sack record of 115 sacks and that number will continue to climb.
Even 3 Browns can’t stop T.J. Watt. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
While Watt remains a sure-fire Hall of Famer, his on the field production has slowed. His sack total “dropped” to 11.5 sacks during the 2024 season and dipped again in 2025. But Watt is still capable of making game-wrecking plays as his 2 fumble recoveries, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions and 8 passes defensed from 2025 showed.
If Watt’s play dipped a bit in 2025, one player who stepped it up was Alex Highsmith as evidenced by his 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 15 tackles for losses and 9.5 sacks. What’s more impressive is that Highsmith boosted his production as the season progressed.
Officially, the Steelers only have two starting outside linebackers, but going into his 4th year, Nick Herbig has proven he is more than starter-capable.
Nick Herbig sacks Lamar Jackson. Photo Credit: Alyisa Rubin, Steelers.come
Herbig made a splash as a rookie, built on that in his second year and took that momentum into his third year, making his first interception, deflecting 3 passes, forcing 3 fumbles, taking one fumble recovery to the house, making 13 tackles for losses and recording 7.5 sacks.
Looking beyond the numbers, like Watt and Highsmith, Nick Herbig has a knack for making those big plays when they’re needed the most.
Not bad for a guy who only played 60% of the snaps.
The Steelers Outside Linebacker Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backups
Steelers backup inside linebacker Jack Sawyer offers the perfect example of why you shouldn’t be picky in the NFL draft. A year ago, with Watt, Highsmith and Herbig in the fold, the Steelers need at outside linebacker were Fair.
Yet, when Sawyer remained on the board in the 4th round the Steelers took him, and Sawyer spent his rookie year showing everyone why Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan made the right pick.
- Jack Sawyer only played 25% of the defensive snaps last season.
But that was enough for him to record a sack, deflect 3 passes, drop 3 ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage, and make 3 interceptions. In the playoffs, he also had a sack and a forced fumble.
In addition to Nick Herbig, the Steelers also have international player Julius Welschof listed as a linebacker.
Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Outside Linebacker
T.J. Watt is signed through the 2028 season. Alex Highsmith’s contract runs through 2027. Nick Herbig is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but Omar Khan has already confirmed the Steelers would like to re-sign him.
Jack Sawyer his three more years remaining on his rookie contract.
Obviously, if a blue-chip outside linebacker falls to Pittsburgh on day three of the draft the Steelers should consider taking him. But the Steelers strength is strong enough there and their needs great enough at places like wide receiver that their need at outside linebacker going in to the 2026 NFL Draft is Negligible.
