The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at a familiar crossroads - searching for a long-term answer under center. With Aaron Rodgers’ future up in the air and only Mason Rudolph and Will Howard currently under contract, the Steelers' quarterback room is light on both experience and upside.
Naturally, speculation has picked up steam, with names like Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins making the rounds. But one recent proposal has raised more than a few eyebrows.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated an unconventional trade idea: the Steelers sending promising young edge rusher Nick Herbig to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for backup quarterback Tanner McKee.
That’s right - Herbig, who just wrapped up a breakout 2025 season with 7.5 sacks and 45 pressures, for a quarterback who’s started just two NFL games.
“If you need a Tanner McKee and you knew someone who obsesses over edge rush talent, would you not call the Eagles and say, ‘Nick Herbig, Tanner McKee - two guys on rookie deals,’” Barnwell said on NFL Daily. “You get a cost-controlled player for another year who had phenomenal pass rushing numbers, and we get our quarterback of the future.”
Let’s unpack that.
First, the idea of moving Herbig - a player who’s quickly become a foundational piece on Pittsburgh’s defense - is a big swing. He’s not just a depth guy flashing potential. He’s been one of the Steelers’ most disruptive pass rushers, and in a division where getting after quarterbacks like Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson is non-negotiable, edge talent is gold.
On the flip side, Tanner McKee is still largely a mystery. Drafted in the sixth round out of Stanford in 2023, he’s shown flashes but hasn’t had the reps to prove he’s a viable starter, let alone a franchise quarterback. Banking on McKee as “the quarterback of the future” is a massive leap - especially when the price tag is a young defender who’s already delivering results.
There’s no denying the Steelers need to address the quarterback position. But giving up a key defensive asset for a developmental prospect at the game’s most important position feels like a gamble that doesn’t align with where this team is right now.
Pittsburgh is built around its defense - a unit that’s kept them competitive even when the offense has sputtered. Trading away one of the few young stars on that side of the ball could create more problems than it solves.
If the Steelers are serious about finding their next quarterback, they’ll have options. Veteran free agents, trade targets, and even this year’s draft class all present different paths.
But sending Nick Herbig packing for a QB with two starts under his belt? That’s a tough sell - even in a league where quarterback desperation often drives bold decisions.
Bottom line: the Steelers need a quarterback, but they also need to be smart about how they go about finding one. Sacrificing a proven edge rusher for a longshot QB prospect doesn’t feel like the kind of move a team with playoff aspirations can afford to make.