T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have been one of the best pass rusher duos in the NFL for years. However, they felt less impactful in 2025. Perhaps that’s because the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t move them around the defense very much. That allows teams to key in and use schematics to limit them. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden recently asked Highsmith about that, and the edge rusher expressed confidence that he and Watt will move around more in 2026.
“Obviously, I’m more comfortable on the right, T.J.’s [Watt] more comfortable on the left,” Highsmith said on Gruden’s YouTube channel. “But I think we did a good job this year. We had a three outside backer package in with Nick [Herbig] as well. I know we’re gonna try and work that in more because teams are game planning, especially if we stay in the same spot.
“But I think we’re gonna have some cool things cooking up, whether we switch sides, there were a few plays where I was lined up inside this year. We’ve got a lot of versatility, but you’re right, teams do game plan with us being in the same spot… We’ve gotta practice it more, too. If we practice it, we’ll be more comfortable with it, instead of just going out there in the game and doing it. I’m excited to work on that.”
The Steelers have talked about moving Watt and Highsmith around for years. It feels like this conversation happens every offseason. However, 2025 felt like the year when the team was finally going to use its pass rushers more creatively
However, that didn’t happen. Watt and Highsmith’s alignment was basically the same as it had always been. While the Steelers’ started using a package that got Watt, Herbig and Highsmith on the field at the same time, that isn’t an adequate substitute for moving them around.
That was especially true because all three of those players dealt with injuries in 2025. That made their three-outside-linebacker package less effective.
Highsmith had a solid year, posting 9.5 sacks in 13 games. However, Watt’s production took a noticeable decline. While he was still very good, he only had seven sacks in 14 games. It was clear that teams were scheming him out of games and minimizing his impact.
Moving Watt and Highsmith around could be a solution to that problem. Watt has expressed a willingness to move around the defense, too, so it’s confusing why the Steelers haven’t done it more.
Highsmith believes that will change this year, but the Steelers did this song and dance before. They can’t just talk in the offseason about moving players around. Actions speak louder than words.
Perhaps things will be different in 2026, though. The Steelers’ coaching staff underwent a major overhaul this offseason. That includes Patrick Graham coming in as defensive coordinator. He’s done more with less in recent years, so maybe he’ll be able to squeeze more out of the Steelers’ talented defensive players. They’ve invested too much into that unit for it to struggle like last year.
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