Steelers rumored to be interested in moving $68 million defender in trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most picks of any NFL team in the 2026 draft. As a result, the team is in a great position to add several impact players.
With so many new players to bring in, naturally, the team may decide to move on from players who previously played large roles. In fact, one analyst believes a big-named defender could be on the trade block.
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports recently revealed that rival clubs expect the Steelers to move an edge rusher. Specifically, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig's names are rumored to be "floating around front offices."
Robinson also mentioned that Highsmith is more likely to be moved than Herbig due to his contract. Highsmith will turn 29 this August, and he still has two years remaining on his deal, with cap hits of over $20 million in both seasons.
In 2025, Highsmith played in 13 games and collected 50 tackles and 9.5 sacks, which led the team. Herbig, meanwhile, was second on the team with 7.5 sacks while adding 40 tackles and 13 tackles for loss.
As Robinson said, it would make more sense to move Highsmith than Herbig. Highsmith is almost 30, while Herbig is still on his rookie deal, and should still only get better.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has also expressed a desire to re-sign Herbig and commented that "you can't ever have enough" pass rushers in this league. Those comments seemingly indicate Herbig isn't going anywhere, and if Khan really wants depth, Highsmith might not be either.
However, as mentioned above, the Steelers have more picks than any other team in 2026. That means they will have plenty of opportunities to add a quality pass rusher or two. If the Steelers take a pass rusher early, then you would think a Highsmith trade becomes more likely.
Teams are always looking for more quality pass rushers. As a result, some team may be willing to overpay for Highsmith. Trading the veteran would not only save the Steelers a ton of money, but could also open up a spot for a young player.
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