Steelers' Alex Highsmith Wants To Make A Massive Change To The Defense In 2025

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to have the highest-paid defense in the NFL again during the 2025 season, and this has been a common theme over the last several years. Some of the top-paid defenders for Pittsburgh include TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Queen. They are all good players that deserve what they get, but it is also crucial that the coaching staff is setting these guys up to have the most success possible. The defense can't be predictable, as that makes the unit easy to neutralize at the professional level.

One position group in particular that the organization takes pride in is its outside linebackers. Watt is one of the best edge-rushers the NFL has ever seen, while Highsmith is also one of the best in the league. Behind them is Nick Herbig, who has been effective and would likely start on any other team. The franchise also has rookie Jack Sawyer entering the rotation in 2025. It is critical that this group has a good season, and a good way to make that happen is ensuring that all the players are able to rush the passer effectively on both sides of the defensive line. Highsmith spoke about this with the media after Thursday's practice.

"I think that's something that we definitely have to include in the game, because teams were kind of catching on to what we were doing," Highsmith said. "So, if we're able to move around to different spots and things like that, we'll be able to get teams off-balance and you can't just sit there and max protect." 

Watt and Highsmith play the majority of the snaps at outside linebacker, while Herbig is the first reserve for when either player needs a play off. Highsmith has always rushed off of the right side of the defensive line while Watt has rushed off of the left. Watt played on the right side of the line during his rookie season, but since then, he has been mainly on the left side.

Both edge rushers coming off of the same side of the line on every snap, and lining up in the same spot on every snap, makes the defense predictable. It makes the opposing offensive line's job easier. If Highsmith and Watt can shuffle things up, it could keep the offense guessing which may lead to more mistakes by the offensive line.

For instance, when Pittsburgh was playing the New York Giants during the 2024 season, Watt recorded a strip sack on Daniel Jones. Throughout the game Jones was motioning his tight end to Watt's side to help block the defensive star. The quarterback forgot to do that before the sack, which was highly criticized after the fact. If Watt and Highsmith are constantly flip-flopping sides, mistakes like that could occur more often.

Steelers Need Young Outside Linebackers To Step Up In 2025

Pittsburgh's defense came to a screeching halt at the end of the 2024 season. The defense struggled to stop the run and get to the passer, and that can't happen with the highest-paid defense in the league. Watt and Highsmith can keep the offense guessing by switching up where they line up, but players like Herbig and Sawyer also need to step up. 

Highsmith and Watt are most effective when they are fresh, which means they need to take some snaps off. This is where Herbig and Sawyer need to fill in and shine when given the opportunity to do so. Productive seasons from those two players would also help control the season long fatigue Watt and Highsmith might endure, especially with a bye week coming early in Week 5.

What do you think about Highsmith and Watt switching things up on the defensive side of the ball? Let us know in the comments below!

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