The Pittsburgh Steelers know what it’s like to have a player holding out due to a contract situation. Often times, it’s the player's way of saying he wants to be paid before the season begins. It gives the player a bit more leverage as well, as they threaten to sit out some meaningful games in the regular season. It’s what happened with star running back Le’Veon Bell. Since then, the organization has done a good job of locking up its stars.
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Steelers star Minkah Fitzpatrick signed an extension in the 2022 offseason that made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL.
Cam Heyward has been signed to multiple extensions. TJ Watt and most recently, Minkah Fitzpatrick, were extended before there was any type of holdout scenario. There’s already a few of those around the league, and we’re not even to July yet. The Minnesota Vikings are dealing with that situation with edge rusher Danielle Hunter. Superstar wideout Stefon Diggs, who just signed a four-year, $96 million extension last offseason, is absent at the Buffalo Bills’ minicamp.
For the Steelers, edge rusher Alex Highsmith is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season. He had a career year in 2022 with 14.5 sacks, which boosted his value significantly. The rising star was present for the team’s mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and according to Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he remains confident a deal will get done.
“We’ll see when that time comes. Right now, I’m working. Being with the team, being with the guys means a lot to me. We’ll see what happens. I’m confident with the way things are going. Right now, I just want to focus on ball," Highsmith said on Tuesday via Rutter.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith continued his star ascension with a stellar 2022 campaign.
It’s a topic that has been discussed several times already, but it simply comes down to the team deciding if they want to invest over $40 million in their two edge rushers. Watt is locked up for another three years at a cap hit of around $30 million per season, and he even could be due for another extension soon. Highsmith was stellar in 2022, but he did struggle when Watt was absent for seven games.
Will Steelers invest $40+ million into OLB position?
In those seven games, Highsmith racked up just 3.5 sacks. In the 10 games that Watt appeared in, Highsmith had 11 sacks. That's a stark difference, and the Charlotte product quite clearly is better with a former AP Defensive Player of the Year on the other side. That would be the case for anyone, and the team's backup edge rushers in 2022 were incompetent for the most part.
That led to many double teams for Highsmith in Watt's absence, hurting his overall numbers. In 2023, if Watt misses any time, things should go a little bit better. The team signed veteran Markus Golden recently, who has 47 career sacks in eight seasons. One thing to keep an eye on is the situation between Chase Young and the Washington Commanders. Young is set to be a free agent after 2023, like Highsmith, and it appears Pittsburgh is interested.
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If the Steelers were to acquire Chase Young from the Washington Commanders, it could throw a wrench in the extension negotiations with Alex Highsmith.
It's unclear if he could become a full-time OLB in a 3-4 scheme like Pittsburgh's, but a Highsmith extension could become less likely if they acquire Young. The team will still have a big decision to make on Highsmith, and they can avoid a free agency decision by extending him this offseason.
Spotrac gives Highsmith a market value of $13.9 million per year, which would equate to a four-year, $55.6 million deal. That's a lot of money, but based off his performance in 2022 and his overall trajectory, it appears he is worth that. In the meantime, he seems to be handling things like a true professional.
Do you think the team should give Highsmith $14 million per year (as projected)? Do you think the two sides will reach an extension before the 2023 season? Would a trade for Chase Young change this discussion? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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