The fact the Washington Commanders have enough offensive line depth they can sustain a surprise retirement speaks volumes to how the team has been reconstructed over the last few years.
The Commanders found out free agent offensive lineman Nate Herbig was stepping away from the game and would retire from the NFL after 6 seasons — and just 4 months after he signed a 1-year, $1.33 million free agent contract with Washington in March.
The Commanders made the move official and announced on their official X account Herbig had been moved to the reserve/retired list on July 29.
“#Commanders G Nate Herbig is retiring from the NFL,” NFL reporter Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account. “The former undrafted free agent started 30 career games over stints with the Eagles, Jets, and Steelers.”
While Herbig’s retirement will impact depth for the Commanders, it shouldn’t be a significant loss.
Herbig Went From Undrafted to NFL Starter
Herbig wasn’t selected in the 2019 NFL draft after an All-Pac-12 career at Stanford but caught on as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles and lasted 3 seasons there.
Herbig played in 61 career games and started 30 games. He was a full time starter for 2 seasons; with the Eagles in 2020 and the New York Jets in 2022. He hit a career high payday in March 2023 when he signed a 2-year, $8 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has approximately $12.4 million in career earnings.
Herbig’s younger brother, Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig, was a fourth round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Commanders Have Incredible Depth on OL
Commanders fans, we hope you’re sitting down. Because what you’re going to hear next might come as incredible shock: The Commanders might have the best offensive line depth in the entire NFL.
That’s not just lip service. Washington has done an incredible job of not just building their offensive line but building a complete unit and it’s done so with the duel motivations of being Super Bowl contenders in 2025 and protecting the most valuable asset to walk through the franchise’s doors in almost 50 years with second year quarterback Jayden Daniels.
To try and keep Daniels safe, the Commanders made a series of offseason moves that should encourage any Washington fan.
Not only did they go out and trade with the Houston Texans for 4-time Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil to protect Daniels’ blindside in 2025, they drafted the player who will likely protect the blind side for Daniels long term in first round pick Josh Conerly Jr.
Conerly Jr. will likely start his career at right offensive tackle and he’s already listed as the starter on the depth chart at the spot. That’s not an unusual path, either.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers superstar Tristan Wirfs started his career playing right offensive tackle before moving to the left side and became the first player in NFL history to earn NFL All-Pro honors at both spots.
Beyond those 2, the Commanders have 2 players currently listed as backups who would be likely starters for almost any other team with Andrew Wylie and Brandon Coleman — who could both play both guard and tackle.
