Player: OLB Alex Highsmith
Stock Value: Down
Reasoning: While nothing may ultimately come of it, Nick Herbig’s extension at least puts moving Alex Highsmith on the table. And it doesn’t even have to be this year; it could just as easily be next year—more easily, actually. The same could apply to T.J. Watt, but for now, we’re dealing with Highsmith.
Alex Highsmith was arguably the Steelers’ best pass rusher last year, but might he be on another team this year? Or if not this year, then next year? Now in Year 7, he is getting up there, while Nick Herbig is in the prime of his career. And the latter is fresh off a new four-year extension, likely in anticipation of a bigger role.
The argument for the Steelers to keep all of their pass rushers is obvious. If it were that simple, no team would ever let any decent player get away. But there are finite matters teams must work within, specifically the roster and the salary cap. And it’s not clear that the trio of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig can stay together much longer. Maybe for another season, maybe even two, but that luxury comes at a cost.
Right now, the Steelers believe they can afford certain luxuries without a franchise quarterback contract weighing them down. Aaron Rodgers jacked his price up this year, but it’s still affordable, relatively speaking. And Nick Herbig didn’t reset the market, but at this point, Alex Highsmith is on a budget contract.
And his deal runs out after this season. What are the odds that the Steelers sign Highsmith to another extension next year, given Watt, Herbig’s extension, and the potential for Jack Sawyer to continue growing? If they were to trade Watt, then sure, Highsmith and Herbig would be your guys.
Now that the Steelers have Herbig locked up, though, they can have these discussions. How long does it make sense to hold onto all three? And when it’s time to break up the trio, which makes the most sense to part with? For years already, Alex Highsmith has been the subject of trade speculation. I don’t think they trade him this year, but next year? It’s certainly a possibility.
With the 2026 offseason well underway and many moves made, we have stock to take. Already promisinga year of change, the Steelers are shaking things up. That is unavoidable, of course, when you gut the coaching staff. Mike Tomlin’s resignation has fundamentally changed this football team, including the players on the roster.
After a long season, the Steelers showed the ability to win the division and make the playoffs. But they also showed that their progress was minimal,since they made it no further. Two years in a row, with two different quarterbacks, they went 10-7 and lost in the Wild Card Round. The only differences are they ended the season on a higher note and won the AFC North. But it didn’t help.
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