Steelers Could Soon Move On From Defensive Starter: "[He] Has Trade Value"

The Pittsburgh Steelers forced five turnovers on Sunday during a Week 3 win over the New England Patriots. The final score told a completely different story than the box score, as New England dominated in total yards. If it were not for the plethora of fumbles and a red zone interception, it could have been a lot uglier for Head Coach Mike Tomlin and his team. One of the more impressive individuals on defense was Nick Herbig, as the edge rusher seemed to be all over the field for the majority of the contest. He had four quarterback hits, a sack, forced fumble and a tackle for loss.

Herbig's increase in playing time was due to the absence of Alex Highsmith, who has been battling an injury, and will continue to miss games, including the Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

Herbig has done a phenomenal job during his young career in creating splash plays, as he has forced seven fumbles in just 32 professional appearances. He has a knack for punching the ball loose, and has wreaked havoc when on the field. His play has gotten the attention of many, so much so that a fan asked Gerry Dulac during a recent chat about the potential for Highsmith (and his hefty contract) to be traded away.

"Possibly because Highsmith has trade value," Dulac wrote. "But they are two different players. Herbig cannot set the edge and support the run as well as Highsmith. But he is faster off the edge to the quarterback. Don't under-sell Highsmith, though. He was the best pass-rusher in NY."

While fans shouldn't expect Highsmith to be traded immediately, he hasn't always been healthy, and Herbig has shown that he has what it takes to perform. If the Steelers decide that extending Herbig is a good option in 2026, it could absolutely open the door for Highsmith to be dealt at some point. The main issue with Herbig is what Dulac noted, and that's defending the run.

The Steelers are currently projected to have 12 draft selections in 2026, so bringing in another edge rusher is on the table. A room of TJ Watt, Herbig, Jack Sawyer and a rookie could make sense if an offer that can't be refused comes in for Highsmith. It's highly unlikely however that Pittsburgh would part ways with Highsmith during the regular season, especially if the team stays in the playoff conversation.

Highsmith has two cap hits over $20 million in the final two years of his current deal. Restructuring is always possible, but so is trading him to an edge rusher-needy team that has a legitimate amount of financial wiggle room. The strong play from Herbig would have to continue, and Sawyer would have to come around, but the best time to trade Highsmith will be in the 2026 offseason if he finishes the year healthy.

The Steelers may not be in a rush to shed cap space because there aren't any large quarterback deals on the books, but several other players, Watt in particular, are counting a lot against the cap.

Steelers Have All Leverage In Any Highsmith Trade Discussions

Pittsburgh has no legitimate reason to trade Highsmith, even with Herbig's emergence. The good news is that, if another organization comes calling, General Manager Omar Khan can be a little bit stingy when it comes to an asking price. While a move of this magnitude is not necessarily right around the corner, it could be something that is talked about once the 2026 new league year begins.

Do you think that the Steelers should consider trading Highsmith if Herbig continues to play well? Let us know in the comments below!

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