Steelers' Alex Highsmith wants to reach '10-to-12 sack mark' in 2022 NFL season

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro edge-rusher and reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan's single-season record when he notched 22.5 sacks for the 2021 campaign, and Watt could eclipse that mark during the upcoming season as long as he avoids an injury setback. 

As NFL senior researcher Jack Andrade noted last month, the Steelers could also potentially "break a tie with three teams from the 1980s for the longest streak of seasons with at least 50 team sacks since they were first tracked in 1963 (five)."

While Watt understandably earns a bulk of defensive headlines related to the Steelers, 2020 third-round draft selection Alex Highsmith is also expected to be a key contributor to the club's pass-rush this fall. As Josh Alper mentioned for Pro Football Talk, Highsmith, who has eight career sacks, touched upon his personal goals for this coming campaign during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. 

"I gotta hit those double-digit sack markers," Highsmith remarked. "And so I’m just gonna do whatever I can. I’ve been working my butt off this offseason. Just be the best player that I can be. I’m in great shape right now. Feel great . . . I know the goal that I’ve had for this year is that 10-to-12 sack mark and just continuing to make plays in the run game." 

Highsmith reached six sacks across 16 starts last season, so bumping that production by a minimum of four quarterback takedowns is not all that outlandish of a goal.