Edge rusher remains a primary area of need for the Detroit Lions heading into training camp next month.
Behind top edges Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, both of whom are returning from injuries, there’s Josh Paschal, veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad, sixth-round rookie Ahmad Hassanein, Nate Lynn, Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu.
Meanwhile, over in Pittsburgh, All-Pro T.J. Watt missed the Steelers‘ mandatory minicamp in the hopes of getting a new contract before the 2025 season. If Watt gets his wish, it could have huge ripple effects for the team’s other top pass rusher, Alex Highsmith.
Watt’s extension will likely place him among the league’s highest‑paid defenders (around $30 million annually), and with key contributors like Highsmith already carrying an $18.6 million cap hit in 2025, the Steelers have some big decisions to make when it comes to how much they want to spend on their defensive line.
Considering this, should the Lions attempt to trade for Highsmith? Let’s discuss.
A Look at Highsmith’s NFL Career So Far
Getty| Should the Detroit Lions attempt to trade for Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith?
Highsmith entered the NFL as a third‑round pick (102nd overall) in 2020 out of Charlotte, where he went from walk‑on to third‑team All‑American. In his rookie year for the Steelers, he played all 16 games, starting the final five. He finished with 48 total tackles (five for loss), six QB hits, 2.0 sacks and an interception.
By 2022, he had exploded onto the national stage, leading the league with five forced fumbles while logging a career‑high 14.5 sacks. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors that year, also finishing with 15 QB hits and 15 TFLs.
Highsmith parlayed that breakout into a four‑year, $68 million extension in July of 2023, with over $27 million of that guaranteed.
His 2023 campaign saw a dip in sack production (7.0), but he remained a versatile threat, hauling in two interceptions (one returned 30 yards for a TD), three passes defended and two forced fumbles. In 2024, despite missing a total of six games due to injury, he finished with 6.0 sacks, a forced fumble, 13 QB hits and nine tackles-for-loss.
What often goes unnoticed is his efficiency under the hood: since 2021 he’s been among the top 12 defenders in sacks (24.5) and strip‑sacks (7) over a 37‑game span. He’s also a rare edge who can hold his own in coverage, run support and special teams if need be.
What Might it Take for the Detroit Lions to Trade for Alex Highsmith?
For Detroit, Highsmith would provide elite production without overpaying for a 15+ sack free agent in 2026. Pittsburgh also restructured his deal in April of 2024 to convert salary into bonus, freeing both cap space and making him more trade‑amenable.
Here’s a trade proposal we put together that might be able to convince the Steelers to let him go:
- Detroit Gets: Alex Highsmith, a conditional 2026 fifth‑round pick that becomes a fourth‑rounder if he records less than 10.0 sacks in 2025.
- Pittsburgh Gets: 2026 2nd‑round pick, 2026 5th‑round pick
There’s little doubt Detroit’s defense would benefit from Highsmith’s blend of power and turnover creation. His ability to drop into coverage and defend passes (he has seven pass breakups since 2020) would add another formidable chess piece alongside Hutchinson, who has been known to swat down a few passes himself.
Highsmith’s cap hit for 2025 is projected around $18.6 million (with an escalating $20.1 million in 2026). With Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer emerging and Watt’s new megadeal looming, it’s possible Pittsburgh would be willing to trade Highsmith.
It’s also possible Pittsburgh has no interest in moving Highsmith, but considering their current situation with Watt, it might behoove Detroit’s GM Brad Holmes to pick up the phone and check.
