The Pittsburgh Steelers may be on the verge of hearing from Carolina, and the reason is simple: one injury can change the trade conversation fast.
When Panthers second-year edge rusher Nic Scourton went down with a right knee injury during the opening training camp sessions, it created an obvious ripple effect. Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan should be bracing for interest from the NFC South team, because the Steelers’ edge-rushing depth makes them one of the few clubs that can even entertain a deal.
That depth is the whole story. T.J.
Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer give Pittsburgh what might be the NFL’s most imposing outside linebacker group. It’s the kind of collection that naturally draws calls from teams looking for help off the edge, and Carolina now fits that profile.
If the Panthers come asking, Highsmith is the name that makes the most sense. He was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and played at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, so a move to Carolina would bring him back home. From the Panthers’ side, he also lines up cleanly with what defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero wants on the edge: athletic, active defenders who can keep pressure coming.
Still, Pittsburgh has no interest in moving him just because the phone might ring. Even after Herbig signed an extension worth up to $100 million, the Steelers’ plan remains the same. Watt and Highsmith are the starters outside, and Herbig is expected to have a bigger role than he had in 2025 without taking snaps directly from Highsmith.
The Steelers are counting on that whole group to work in concert. With a new defensive coordinator and a defensive line that’s supposed to be more energized, the hope is that the edge rushers will have even more freedom to attack the quarterback.
Pittsburgh wants a steady rotation, fresh bodies, and constant pressure outside the tackles. Highsmith is still central to that vision.
That’s why any team trying to pry him loose would have to pay a steep price. A first-round pick is the kind of return Pittsburgh would likely demand, and the Steelers shouldn’t be expected to move off that number. If Highsmith is going anywhere, it would take an offer that clearly blows them away.
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