Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.
OLB ALEX HIGHSMITH
Experience/age: Sixth season, turns 28 in August
Contract status: $18.6 million cap hit in 2025, signed through 2027
The past: After appearing in 69 of the Steelers’ 70 games (including playoffs) from when he entered the NFL as a 2020 third-round draft choice through 2023, Highsmith missed six games because of injury last season. Groin and ankle ailments cost Highsmith three games each during his fifth NFL season. He started the 11 others and finished with six sacks, 13 QB hits and a forced fumble. Highsmith added a sack in the wild-card playoff loss in Baltimore, extending his streak of postseason games with a sack to three.
Highsmith took over for Bud Dupree as the starter opposite T.J. Watt late in the 2020 season and has held that role since, compiling 35 ½ sacks in that time. He signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension in July 2023. The NFL leader in forced fumbles in 2022 with five, Highsmith has nine in his career. Highsmith had a career-high 14 ½ sacks in 2022.
Hold the ball tight near Alex Highsmith, he's coming for it.
Five forced fumbles in 2022 helped earned @highsmith34 a 4-year extension. ???? @steelers pic.twitter.com/f8JiP0639j
— NFL (@NFL) July 19, 2023
2025 outlook: The Steelers have loaded up on edge rushers with the drafting of Nick Herbig in 2023 and Jack Sawyer this year. And while Herbig has certainly shown he’s a high-level NFL pass rusher, the Steelers are more than content with the Watt-Highsmith tandem on the outside of their defense. Watt’s contract situation is something to watch, but typically that gets worked out.
Though he’s of course the “Robin” to Watt’s “Batman,” Highsmith is quite the player in his own right. Pro Football Focus graded him as the eighth-best edge defender in the NFL in 2024 (Watt was third) after Highsmith graded 10th in the league at his position in 2023.
Highsmith will never get the attention and accolades Watt does — few across the league do — but he’s established himself as a top outside linebacker.
