"Ammunition": Steelers Have Clear Path To Load Up On 2027 Draft Capital With A Trade-Up In Mind

Just because the Pittsburgh Steelers have a roster that is built to compete throughout the 2026 season doesn't mean the franchise is structured for long-term success. With an aging roster and no known future at the quarterback position, the organization has to be considered one of the more fascinating ones in the NFL. There are two promising young passers in the building; however, neither has proven that he deserves to be considered as a 10-year or longer starter. This is why a lot of eyes in the Steel City remain on the 2027 NFL Draft, as it is supposed to be stacked with prospects who play the most important position in all of sports.

Will Howard and Drew Allar don't have too much time to show the front office that investing a first-round selection in another signal-caller would be a mistake. One challenge that the Steelers might face is positioning. The roster is certainly good enough to sneak back into the postseason, but that will present some challenges when it comes to landing one of the best from the 2027 class.

It won't be cheap to move far up the board in round one, especially because a lot of other teams will be eyeing quarterbacks as well. This could put an emphasis on Pittsburgh doing whatever it can to bring in more capital. Any extra pick will be viewed as valuable, particularly when negotiations hypothetically begin. However, because the team is not necessarily tanking, it will be tough to decide who can be traded and when.

A popular discussion of late has been about the Steelers' edge rushers' room. TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and newly-extended Nick Herbig provide powerful capabilities and could be the most dynamic trio in the league moving forward. It might not last very long, though. Beat writer Christopher Carter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted in a chat on Friday that the writing is on the wall for one of them.

"While I expect all of them to stay this season, it's hard to see them keeping all three next season with Highsmith on the final year of his current contract and needing a new deal," Carter wrote. "It would just make sense for the Steelers to trade him for good value rather than playing him just one more year and letting him hit the market when he's 30 and waiting for draft compensation to hit in 2029."

Strategically, the Steelers could deal Highsmith right when the new league year starts in 2027. This would suddenly lead to more draft capital that could be used in a move to land a quarterback.

"Instead, Highsmith could be a useful piece to pick up draft capital in 2027, when they might anticipate to be big players for a quarterback in the first round," Carter noted. "Highsmith might not get a first by himself, but he could get them ammunition that helps them move up."

Whether Highsmith lands Pittsburgh a second- and third-round pick, or something along those lines, anything will be viewed as useful when it comes to skyrocketing up the board. The Steelers trading their first-round selections for 2027 and 2028, along with the ammunition from Highsmith's hypothetical trade, is a fantastic starting point.

The Steelers are working with a good problem to have. Not many teams can boast three incredible pass rushers. The issue becomes getting all of them on the field at once. That could work for 2026, but even if it does, Highsmith will be looking for a lot more money moving forward due to what has happened with the edge rushers' market in recent years.

Steelers Could Also Hold Onto Highsmith For Draft-Day Trade

While it seems more unlikely, Pittsburgh will know what the order will be for the 2027 NFL Draft in February. If there are several teams in the top-12 or so that really need someone like Highsmith, talks could linger for months about what it would take to include him in some kind of Day 1 move. It's less likely, but it sure is possible, as is anything with Omar Khan running the show.

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