NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report believes the Pittsburgh Steelers ' most important contract decision ahead of the 2026 season is Alex Highsmith.
Highsmith is entering a contract year.
"In T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best trios of edge-rushers in the game. However, after handing Herbig a fat extension in the offseason, the Steelers also have a boatload of resources tied up in the position—and that puts Pittsburgh in something of a pickle with Highsmith entering a contract year," Davenport wrote.
"Essentially, it may come down to a simple but once inconceivable choice. Let Highsmith walk next spring—or entertain offers for Watt."
For the Steelers last season, Highsmith put up 9.5 sacks, 36 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 19 QB hits.
Highsmith has 45 sacks, 212 solo tackles, 64 tackles for loss and 91 QB hits in the NFL. He's spent his entire career with the Steelers.
"I do want to be a Steeler for life," Highsmith said. "For me, I just wanna go out there and do whatever I can to bring another Super Bowl to this team, another Super Bowl to this city. I do want to be a Steeler for life, so for me I'm just excited for this year and just to go out there and like I said, our group, we're the best group in the league EDGE-wise. The three of us, and Jack [Sawyer], so I'm just really excited for the group that we have."
The Steelers went 10-7 last season and won the AFC North.
However, Pittsburgh lost to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
The Steelers hired former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy this offseason after Mike Tomlin stepped down from his post. Pittsburgh also re-signed Aaron Rodgers , the oldest active starting QB in the NFL.
In Year 1 of the McCarthy era, the Steelers face the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.
Rodgers hasn't won a playoff game since the 2020 season, while the Steelers haven't won a postseason game since the 2016 season.
It will be intriguing to see how Rodgers and Co. perform in 2026.
