Bears Have a Chance to Steal Emerging Steelers Star Before Deadline
It wouldn’t be a blockbuster, but there may be a sneaky-good opportunity for the Chicago Bears before the trade deadline hits.
Over in Pittsburgh, Nick Herbig is 23, still on his rookie deal and producing like a starter even while sitting behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Through six games in 2025, he’s got 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, and, per Fansided’s Marcus Mosher, he has a 94.0 defensive grade since Week 4 — third-best in the league over that stretch behind only Micah Parsons and Aiden Hutchinson.
The Bears have had issues with their pass rush so far this season, and they’re already shelling out big bucks to the likes of Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo. Adding an ascending player like Herbig, who is still on his rookie deal, would give Chicago an opportunity to audition him for the long term at a very reasonable price.
It would also give them immediate help on defense, which, with all the injuries to the secondary, wouldn’t be a bad thing.
A Closer Look at Herbig’s Game
Herbig is smaller than Allen likes his edge rushers at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, but he’s versatile, which Allen covets. A 2023 fourth-round pick (No. 132 overall) out of Wisconsin, Herbig was an all-Big Ten edge, and he has played well past his draft status since entering the league.
Herbig would give Allen a fourth rusher (Austin Booker is back after a stint on injured reserve) — and one who can actually threaten the edge all by himself. He’s just 23, but he already has eight forced fumbles in 36 career games (seven starts).
Per PFF, he has 26 total pressures in 182 pass rush snaps this season. There’s no doubt he’s an ascending player the Steelers probably don’t want to part with, but that doesn’t mean Ryan Poles shouldn’t be calling about him.
The Bears have been banged up at corner — Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are both on injured reserve and have already missed the bulk of the season — which means Chicago’s secondary could use some help. More pressure on opposing quarterbacks is a huge help to a thin secondary.
Plus, it never hurts to ask.
Bears Trade Proposal Sends Steelers Edge Nick Herbig to Chicago
The Steelers already pay Watt big money ($123 million with $108 of that guaranteed), and Highsmith is also on a lucrative $68 million deal. Considering they’re already paying their top two edge rushers more than the Bears are paying Sweat and Odeyingbo, Pittsburgh likely isn’t going to want to pay a third.
A trade for Herbig may seem like a bit of a long shot, but CBS Sports named him a potential trade candidate, and it never hurts to ask.
Here’s a trade proposal we put together we think works for both sides:
- Bears get: Nick Herbig
- Steelers get: 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth that becomes a fifth if Herbig hits 7.0 sacks for Chicago in 2025.
Moving a rotational edge for a future third — when they’re already trying to find snaps for rookie Jack Sawyer — might be something the Steelers might consider. If the Steelers wanted a second-rounder, that would be something for Poles to ponder.
Herbig is in Year 3 of a four-year rookie deal the Steelers signed him to in 2023. If you’re the Bears, you’d be getting 1.5 seasons of cost-controlled edge play and then the right to extend him before he even turns 25. That’s incredible value.
The Steelers still list him behind Highsmith at ROLB, and he’s not a full-time starter. Few teams in the NFL have the kind of pass rushing depth Pittsburgh does. Considering their current deficiencies, Chicago should be trying to bring some of that talent over to the Windy City.
Cubs Favored To Replace Kyle Tucker With $182 Million Red Sox Superstar
The Chicago Cubs took a risk and acquired Kyle Tucker in a blockbuster trade last winter, but the superstar is now a free agent. It seems like he’s going to leave town in free agency, as he’s projected to sign for north of $400 million, so the Cubs will need to do their best to replace his production.
Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib recently suggested the Cubs could replace Tucker’s production by signing Boston Red Sox infielder Alex Bregman. Bregman was recently projected to sign a massive $182 million contract in free agency, according to The Athletic’s Jim Bowden.
“The guess here is that the Cubs make a strong push for Alex Bregman. The Cubs identified Bregman as the piece last offseason that could transition them from being a good team into a great team,” Campbell wrote. “They weren’t wrong, but the problem was that the Cubs made a pursuit of Bregman a priority far too late in the offseason. The Boston Red Sox likely will make a strong push to bring Bregman back, but the Cubs being involved shouldn’t be that surprising.”
Bregman has been a solid fit for the Cubs for the last year, and they seemingly took a shot on him last free agency, but he opted to sign with the Red Sox.
This offseason, the Cubs need to prioritize landing an impact bat, whether it’s Tucker or a replacement. Bregman would fit that mold, especially considering the fact that he’s projected to sign for half the money.
It won’t be a cake walk for the Cubs to sign Bregman, but it’s certainly a possibility.
