As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Nick Herbig.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles 
Nick Herbig (LB – Wisconsin)
6’2” – 228 lbs.
Background:
Brother is Jets offensive guard Nate Herbig. Four-star recruit who has been starting at Wisconsin since his true freshman year (the shortened 2020 season), a year in which he finished with 26-6.0-1.0. Really blossomed the following year and finished with outstanding lines of 61-14.5-9.0 and 47-15.5-11.0 in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Positives:
Highly productive three-year starter for one of college football’s premier linebacker factories, lining up as a stand-up edge rusher and shading over the slot at times as well. Overall awareness and motor are solid. Gets good extension to play off of blocks, with good activity to shed. Because of his leverage, actually holds the point of attack pretty well, especially for his size. Flows well laterally in pursuit; can get out to the sidelines and make tackles near the perimeter. Good athlete who can make tackles in backside pursuit. Pretty active with his hands as a pass-rusher; flashes the ability to cover ground with his first step and use a rip to get around the corner. Bends a smooth arc back to the quarterback. More power to his bull rush than anticipated; does a good job of converting speed to power to collapse the pocket. Able to shade over the slot and drop into zone coverage, or carry opponents into the flats. Generally does a good job of getting enough depth to keep things in front of him, with clean transitions to deliver hits or make quick tackles on shallow crosses and other routes of that nature. Sniffs out screens quickly and attacks blockers.
Negatives:
Has added some weight since arriving at Wisconsin but might need to get up to 240 or so as a pro; overall frame isn’t the biggest to grow into. Tackling has been up and down throughout his career, and doesn’t have the longest arms. Good athlete overall, but can be kind of a one-speed player who doesn’t have overwhelming explosiveness to his game. Doesn’t have a deep repertoire of rush moves and counters; more of an intensity-based rusher. Some of his production as a rusher was schemed on stunts. Technique when dropping is a little inconsistent.
Summary:
The type of solid all-around player we’ve come to expect from Wisconsin, with the awareness, extension, and range to flow to the ball in the run game and enough speed and power to challenge opposing tackles as a pass-rusher. Might need to bulk up a bit, but looks like a relatively safe second-day pick with few holes in his game and who will probably play linebacker in either an even or an odd front.
Projection: Round 2-3
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