The Packers already made their big swing for Micah Parsons, but the edge-rushing work in Green Bay still looks unfinished.
Parsons’ first season with the team was interrupted by injury, and he’ll miss at least the first month of the 2026 season. That leaves the Packers leaning on a pass-rushing group that comes with plenty of questions.
Lukas Van Ness is still in the mix, but he’s also coming off an injury and has been inconsistent. With Rashan Gary gone and the group looking different around him, the edge deserves a hard look.
That’s why Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton floated Alex Highsmith as a trade target for Green Bay. In Moton’s setup, the Packers would send a 2027 Day 2 pick to Aaron Rodgers’ Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for the veteran outside linebacker.
“Green Bay can replenish its depleted outside linebacker group with a move for Highsmith, who may want a new contract. The Steelers edge-rusher doesn't have any guaranteed money in the final two years of his deal. With $23.4 million in cap space, the Packers can acquire Highsmith, rework his contract and fill a glaring need on the edge,” wrote Moton.
And on paper, the fit makes sense. Highsmith has spent most of his career in T.J.
Watt’s shadow, but he’s been a major part of why Watt has thrived. He brings effort, versatility, and a real feel for getting after the quarterback.
He’s the kind of player who can stabilize a position group that suddenly looks thin.
The Packers may eventually get Parsons back, but there’s no guarantee he’s at full strength right away. Some players need a full season before their explosiveness and mobility return after an ACL tear.
Pittsburgh’s situation could also push this in Green Bay’s favor. The Steelers have already committed big money to Watt and Nick Herbig, and even if they’ve said the right things about keeping Highsmith, the cap may force a tougher decision. The article also points out that Mike McCarthy’s team may not be in position to contend at the highest level in 2026.
Aaron Rodgers can only carry so much at this stage of his career, and the defense around him is described as aging and unlikely to match its peak form. If Pittsburgh decides it’s time to start over, a Day 2 pick could be more valuable than holding onto Highsmith a little longer.
For Green Bay, the logic is simple: after landing Parsons, the next move is making sure the rest of the pass rush is strong enough to support him.
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For a team already asking a lot of its young pass catchers, the move matters beyond special teams. Green Bay needs Savion Williams to keep growing into a real receiver option, especially with the depth chart thinned by departures and injuries, and taking return work off his plate gives the rookie a clearer path to that development. The Packers still have to sort out how much they can lean on him early, but this at least removes one layer of pressure. [Read more 🡒]