What does Nick Herbig’s extension mean for Alex Highsmith?
The somewhat surprising contract extension for Nick Herbig raises questions about the future, particularly for Alex Highsmith. Already the frequent subject of trade speculation, the Steelers now have an actionable scenario that makes it possible. They now have T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer under contract through at least 2028.
That’s a strong group of linebackers, but, of course, Watt will be 34 by the end of that run. Nick Herbig should be in or near his prime, and Sawyer could develop into a starter-caliber play. Alex Highsmith is already a starter-caliber player, but does he fit into their plans—particularly financially?
The NFL is as much a business as it is a sport, and each team operates within a salary cap. The Steelers would love to keep Watt, Highsmith, Herbig, and Sawyer around, but that’s not easy to do. Obviously, the new coaching staff has already made its feelings clear that Herbig is part of the future.
And Sawyer, of course, is still young, with three years left on his rookie deal. But T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have been the starting tandem for five-plus years. And they’ve been effective, when healthy. Last year, he was arguably their best pass rusher.
But we’ve seen teams move top-end pass rushers a lot in the past year or so. Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett, for example, and Maxx Crosby would have been another. The feeling is the Steelers missed their window to trade T.J. Watt for representative value. But what could they get for Alex Highsmith—on the eve of a draft in which they hope to find their franchise quarterback, no less?
Obviously, Pittsburgh wouldn’t get the sort of haul the Cowboys or Browns did for their star pass rushers. And even if the Steelers decided to move somebody, either this year or next year, it wouldn’t necessarily be Highsmith. It could still be Watt, who will be 32 in October.
With Nick Herbig now under contract for the next five years, though, all of those discussions that we’ve had in recent years are actually relevant. Many questions whether they would even successfully extend Herbig. Now that that’s in the bag, what is the fallout? What does it mean for Alex Highsmith, one of the Steelers’ most underrated players?
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already deep into the offseason, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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