Alex Highsmith has spent six seasons giving the Pittsburgh Steelers exactly what every defense wants from an edge rusher: steady pressure, production, and reliability. Since the team drafted him in the third round in 2020, he’s piled up 48 career sacks, with 9.5 coming last season alone. That kind of impact is hard to replace, which is why the idea of moving him before the NFL trade deadline feels so risky.
Still, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper floated the possibility that Pittsburgh’s front office could pursue a player-for-player deal involving Highsmith. On paper, that kind of move could help a roster with some obvious weak spots. In practice, it would mean sacrificing one of the Steelers’ most dependable defenders for help elsewhere.
The secondary is one of the biggest concerns. A trade with the Dallas Cowboys sent Joey Porter Jr. south in exchange for a 2028 second-round selection and a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick, leaving Patrick Graham’s defense without a clear top cornerback.
Even so, the group has held up better than many expected. Entering Week 7, Pittsburgh has given up 204.3 passing yards per game, good for seventh, and 6.6 yards per pass, which ranks 13th.
Those numbers aren’t perfect, but they do show a defense that has weathered the loss reasonably well.
Asante Samuel Jr., Daylen Everette, and Robert Spears-Jennings have all stepped into important roles and done enough to keep the unit afloat. There’s still room for another rotational piece if the Steelers want more depth, but that doesn’t automatically make Highsmith expendable.
If Pittsburgh is looking for a veteran defensive back, Riq Woolen and Isaiah Pola-Mao are two names worth considering before the Nov. 10 deadline. Even then, the cost would be steep.
The more logical place to shop might be on offense. Roman Wilson (hand) and Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) are expected to miss multiple games after landing on injured reserve, which leaves Aaron Rodgers leaning heavily on DK Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard. The two both caught 11 passes last week in the comeback overtime win over the Buccaneers, a strong showing that still doesn’t solve the long-term problem.
Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington have also taken on bigger roles and contributed when called upon, but Pittsburgh could still use another receiver who can stabilize the group. Chris Godwin Jr. is one option. He’s a physical target with dependable hands and a wide route tree, and while injuries over the past two seasons are worth watching, he has still averaged 12.3 yards per catch and scored 41 touchdowns since 2017.
If Godwin Jr. feels too risky, Brian Thomas Jr. is the other name to watch. At 24, he offers speed, separation ability, and big-play juice.
Since 2024, he has racked up 2,094 receiving yards on 144 catches, and he’s missed just three games in his career because of injury. The one concern is that his production this season hasn’t matched that profile, as he’s gone for nine receptions on 19 targets and 105 receiving yards.
Highsmith’s importance goes beyond the sack total. Through six weeks, he leads the Steelers with 20 quarterback pressures, according to Sumer Sports.
That’s the kind of front-line production a team doesn’t casually give away, especially when Nick Herbig is already in line for a bigger role. Moving Highsmith would force even more onto the rest of the edge group, and that’s a gamble Pittsburgh doesn’t need to take.
The Steelers may be trying to improve before the deadline, and Rodgers has played better than expected during his final rodeo. McCarthy’s team is ahead of schedule. But dealing Highsmith would be a sharp, possibly unnecessary swing, and there’s no guarantee Pittsburgh would get equal value back for a defender who keeps making the pass rush work.
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