Steelers GM Omar Khan Lands Perfect Trade Opportunity With Familiar Foe

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the entire football world curious about what this new chapter under Mike McCarthy is going to look like. On Tuesday, one major question was answered when the team elected to sign 24-year-old edge rusher Nick Herbig to a four-year extension worth up to $100 million. It is a significant payday for an outside linebacker who is viewed as the third option behind TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith.

However, Steeler Nation is now wondering if this move sets up General Manager Omar Khan for the perfect trade partner. The Chicago Bears are in need of help at the outside linebacker position. Chicago currently features Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, who is questionable due to injury at this juncture, and Austin Booker as the primary edge rushers heading into the 2026 season.

With the luxury of pass rush talent Pittsburgh now has in Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig, many are curious whether Khan should reach out to Bears general ganager Ryan Poles, someone he has successfully done business with before, to explore a potential deal involving Highsmith.

The only concern with Highsmith is the injury issues he has dealt with, which could impact his trade value. However, when healthy, he has been an elite edge rusher and would immediately upgrade the Bears’ defense. If Jack Sawyer continues to develop at his current pace, it may also make sense for Pittsburgh to consider moving Highsmith while he is still in the prime of his career at 28 years old, even though Steelers fans would likely hate to see him go.

The Steelers have Highsmith on a very team-friendly deal, making $14.5 million for the 2026 season. With his injury history, along with the rise of Herbig and the potential development of Sawyer, there is at least a case to be made for moving him. His trade value could be boosted by Pittsburgh’s contract situation, since he is locked into a favorable deal, but his injury concerns could balance that out on the other side of the equation.

Either way, it is an eye-opening situation when considering what Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham has at his disposal. During his time with the Las Vegas Raiders, the general consensus was that Graham was a strong defensive mind who simply did not have the proper organizational backing in terms of talent investment on defense. Still, he was able to do a solid job limiting chunk plays, something the Steelers are hoping will improve in Pittsburgh with the added investment in his unit.

Steelers Could Get Solid Value If They Trade Alex Highsmith Soon

You never know what adversaries across the league might be willing to give up for a talented player, but in the case of Highsmith, the market is still intriguing. Sure, he will be turning 29 years old soon, but when healthy he has proven to be in the heart of his prime. Pittsburgh could likely command a Day 2 pick in future drafts, or even a package deal if they decided to move him.

As of now, the value to trade Highsmith is still relatively high, but waiting could be risky. It will be curious to see if Khan picks up the phone to engage Poles or any other team across the league, as edge rusher help is always a luxury contending teams are willing to pay for.

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