Game recognizes game, and one of the very best pass rushers in the league just gave Alex Highsmith a big shout out. Micah Parsons was asked on X about the most underrated pass rusher in the league, and Highsmith was the first name he rattled off.
Despite multiple injuries last season, Highsmith was Pittsburgh’s best pass rusher with 9.5 sacks in 13 games. His 44 total pressures and 9.5 sacks on 351 pass-rush snaps was one of his most efficient seasons on a per-snap basis. And he finished a higher percentage of his opportunities than a season ago. He also tied his career high in tackles for loss with 15.
Highsmith notched one sack per game over his final eight games played last season, including a two-week absence to an injury within that stretch. His sacks came in bunches with three multi-sack games.
Durability has been the biggest issue in Highsmith’s career. He hasn’t suffered a season-ending injury in six years, but he missed a combined total of 10 games over the last two. He hasn’t reached the double-digit sack mark since 2022 when T.J. Watt was injured for most of the season. If fully healthy for a 17-game schedule, the sky is the limit for Highsmith.
Highsmith has everything you want in a top 3-4 pass rusher—size, burst, motor, and a variety of well-honed moves in his arsenal.
Pittsburgh signed Highsmith to a four-year, $68 million extension in 2023. The pass rusher market has exploded in value since then, making Highsmith one of the best values in the league. Due for another extension next offseason, Highsmith could force some interesting business decisions for the Steelers if he finally lives up to his potential with another double-digit sack season.
It’s nice to see Highsmith get national recognition for what Steelers fans have known for a long time. Micah Parsons is one of the best, and he knows elite pass rushing when he sees it.
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