The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t exactly known for making blockbuster deals, especially ones involving someone as good as Alex Highsmith, but there’s a lot that could change over the next few weeks to months.
The Steelers have more questions than ever before, given that Mike Tomlin isn’t around anymore, and it could lead to major changes. It doesn’t seem like the Steelers would go in any direction with Highsmith right now, but Ryan Pawloski doesn’t think that will be the case. He proposed a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, a trade in which multiple parts would be moving around.
Steelers Receive: 2026 1st Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick, 2027 3rd Round Pick
Cowboys Receive Highsmith 2026 1st Round Pick, 2026 4th Round Pick
“Trading Highsmith in a major draft deal remains unlikely, though it cannot be completely ruled out. Pittsburgh will need to determine whether it wants to keep Herbig and expand his role this season. If not, the team would be wise to explore moving one of the two edge rushers to gain value before an eventual departure. Highsmith would likely yield the greatest return in a trade, making this proposal a sensible option under the right circumstances.
“It would take a significant offer for the Steelers to seriously consider moving their longtime veteran. Highsmith remains under contract and has shown no signs of slowing down. For Dallas to spark meaningful discussions, it would need to present a compelling trade package. With Pittsburgh eager to draft an impactful wide receiver, this mock trade could help position them closer to that goal,” he wrote.
Highsmith has been productive and a nice piece to this defense, which is exactly why some think trading him now for decent compensation would be the wise move.
The Cowboys’ defense is very below-average, so it’s possible that they’ll be interested. This is more about whether the Steelers would want to get rid of a guy that Mike McCarthy can play on the defense and trust daily.