The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to have another contract situation with an edge rusher. With superstar TJ Watt locked up, the team faced a similar scenario just a few years back with Bud Dupree. They opted to not pay him the big bucks, as he signed with the Tennessee Titans on a five-year, $82.5 million deal just two offseasons ago. Thankfully, the Steelers already had Dupree's replacement on the team.
Just a year earlier, they drafted Alex Highsmith in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was set to enter his second season, and he had all the traits to become a solid starter in the NFL. Fast forward two years later, and Pittsburgh is set to face a similar scenario. Highsmith took a step forward in 2022, as his career-high 14.5 sacks were sixth-most in the NFL.
With just one year technically remaining on his deal, he’s set to earn a contract similar to Dupree a few years back. As of now, Spotrac projects Highsmith's annual value at just under $14 million, which would be just under what Dupree got with Tennessee. At this point, one more good season and Highsmith's number may even increase. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn't see the team breaking the bank for the breakout star.
"I think they will try to extend him once they get to training camp. They want to extend him. But they are not going to break the bank because they are already paying TJ Watt and [Minkah] Fitzpatrick a lot of money," Dulac said in his recent mailbag.
That could all lead the front office to a similar situation as 2021, making edge rusher a possible position of need sooner rather than later. Everything may come full circle, as Dupree is set to visit with the Steelers and seems open to a return to Pittsburgh. A reunion would make sense for both sides, as he would be the perfect third rusher for the defense.
Reverting back to Highsmith, there hasn’t been any updates this offseason in regards to a possible extension. He’s developed nicely over the past two years specifically, and he may be well worth the money that he would command on the open market. Unfortunately for the Steelers, they are paying Watt $28 million per year on the other side. It would be unprecedented to pay your two edge rushers around a combined $45 million.
Is edge rusher a need for the Steelers?
This seems more likely to be a dilemma next offseason when Highsmith actually can become a free agent. The front office could even opt to give him the franchise tag, which is valued at around $20 million for edge rushers at the moment. This situation seems all too familiar though, and Dulac is right, the signs say the Steelers will again refuse to fish out big money to their No. 2 pass rusher.
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