Sincere Trade Rumors Begin With Steelers Possibly Shopping TJ Watt Or Alex Highsmith

The Pittsburgh Steelers' success when it came to the 2023 NFL Draft class is now coming back to be a little bit of a challenge. The team would repeat the majority of the selections again if it could, but it is time to officially offer some of the players contract extensions. One individual who arguably has the most difficult situation is Nick Herbig. The edge rusher is stuck behind TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, which could mean another season of playing third fiddle. If the former fourth-rounder doesn't sign a new deal, he could be in line for a massive payday elsewhere come the 2027 offseason.

The Steelers could have had a legitimate chance to trade Watt after the 2024 campaign, but the decision was made to extend him instead. He had the second-lowest sack total of his career in 2025. This is where it gets incredibly complicated. No one would be interested in taking on Watt's contract, but Highsmith was arguably more productive recently. Herbig doesn't benefit when that is the reality.

The current situation had some fans wondering about what a possible solution could look like. In a chat that was hosted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, Herbig came up. An individual chimed in and was curious as to if the Steelers might entertain trading Herbig now in order to pile up some 2027 draft capital. The top insider was more so focused on the idea of Watt or Highsmith being sent off.

"I think the trade would involve someone ahead of him," Dulac wrote.

Watt has a financial component to his possible availability that would turn teams away. Connecting the dots, it appears as if Dulac thinks a trade of Highsmith is still very much on the table. He has only eclipsed 10 sacks once in his career, so maybe the front office has plans to let Herbig loose, while also trading Highsmith in the meantime. Dulac mentioned that nothing will get done with Herbig unless one of the two above him is no longer in Pittsburgh.

"I see the Steelers WANTING to extend Herbig," Dulac noted. "But, as long as Watt and Highsmith are around, I see Herbig WANTING to test the FA market. And why wouldn't he? As an edge rusher, there's a lot of desperate cash out there for that."

A lot of things can transpire on draft weekend. This is why the Steelers potentially moving on from Highsmith specifically should not be ruled out. The organization has until the regular season to get an extension done with Herbig, so there hasn't been any true reported movement on that front. However, a deal that sends Highsmith to another franchise would immediately signal a long-term commitment to Herbig is coming.

This is a situation that should work itself out, but that doesn't mean the Steelers will end up making the right decision. Herbig is a game-wrecker that has had several big-time plays early on in his career. There is a slight injury worry with him, but that can also be said for Highsmith. Pittsburgh should come to a conclusion by the end of the draft regarding their futures; however, a summertime trade also can't be ruled out.

Highsmith has been productive for the Steelers, as has Watt, but Herbig is only 24 and has legitimate talent. It would likely be a mistake to let him test the market in 2027 because he would inevitably sign elsewhere.

Steelers Drafting An Edge Rusher Should Sound Alarms

With 12 overall projected selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh has so many different options. If the team decides to take an edge rusher rather early, that should immediately signal that someone will soon be the odd man out. That brings Highsmith and Herbig to the center of the discussion, as it seems like trade rumors might really begin to blossom rather quickly.

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