The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in quite an interesting situation heading into the 2026 season. Of course, with Mike McCarthy in town for his first season in Pittsburgh and his 19th season in the NFL, the veteran 62-year-old head coach comes into the Steel City hopeful to turn the tides and get this team back to winning meaningful postseason games.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' new head coach, Mike McCarthy, with Team President Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan at McCarthy's introductory press conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and that drought has weighed on the organization, the fan base, and all things in between. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan, in his first 2023 NFL Draft with the organization, did quite the job to draft some rising stars. They've been handing out tons of money to those stars such as tight end Darnell Washington and edge rusher Nick Herbig, both of whom are technically backup players but young, and they view it as getting them locked up before their prices go up.
"TJ Watt isn't going anywhere this year and he's going to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 4, 2026
I don't get the sense that Alex Highsmith is going anywhere either" ~ @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/fZP2w8ghpK
They still have to get money to Joey Porter Jr. and maybe another from that 2023 class. And that is why many are starting to wonder. What's the future like for TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, the two edge rushers in front of Herbig? With Herbig now locked up long-term, questions about the future of Watt and Highsmith aren't going away anytime soon. That's why Ian Rapoport joined The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday to tell Steelers fans what they need to know about the future of the Steelers' star pass-rushing duo following news of Herbig's extension.
"My sense this year is nothing. I don't get the sense Highsmith is going anywhere," Rapoport said. "TJ Watt is not going anywhere this year. He is not. He is going to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but after this year, I would imagine they have a decision to make one way or another."
It's no secret Watt got a massive extension just ahead of the 2025 NFL season, but he didn't really live up to the hype surrounding that deal. Many believe Watt had a down year in 2025, but that's hard to truly blame on him.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers OLB TJ Watt walks to Phase One of voluntary workouts in 2026.
The organization punctured his lung at a critical stage of the season, and he had to work even harder to get back up to speed. Some question his age and the amount of money he'll be making, but for the 2026 season, he's not going anywhere, and neither is Highsmith.
Steelers' Pass Rush Should Be Lethal In 2026
The Steelers have a ton of money invested in these three players, and new DC Patrick Graham better see his unit lead the NFL in sacks, or Steelers fans won't be thrilled. Highsmith and Watt have played in front of Herbig ever since he was drafted, but every time No. 51 has been on the field, he's made splash plays. That's what makes this situation so interesting for Pittsburgh moving forward.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers' Patrick Graham coaches during voluntary veteran minicamp in 2026.
The thing about Watt and Highsmith is that both remain highly productive players and key pieces of the Steelers' defense. Watt, in particular, is no longer the young player he once was, but he still commands attention as one of the league's premier edge rushers. The Steelers edge rush should be lethal in 2026.
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