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Steelers Outlook: Pro comparisons for EDGE Alex Highsmith

By Tommy Jaggi

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 23: Alex Highsmith #5 of the Charlotte 49ers during the first half during their game against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Jerry Richardson Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 23: Alex Highsmith #5 of the Charlotte 49ers during the first half during their game against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Jerry Richardson Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 22: Linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu #97 of the Denver Broncos rushes the passer against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Lions 27-17. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 22: Linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu #97 of the Denver Broncos rushes the passer against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Lions 27-17. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Most likely NFL comparison: Jeremiah Attaochu

This may not be the name you were hoping to hear for Alex Highsmith’s most likely comparison. There are probably many readers who really don’t know who Jeremiah Attaochu is. Though this would admittedly be a bit underwhelming, there are plenty of reasons to believe Highsmith’s most likely career path will be similar to Attaochu’s.

For starters, Attaochu was an extremely productive pass rusher coming out of Georgia Tech back in 2013. He earned 28.0 tackles for a loss and 22.5 sacks over his junior and senior seasons, and ultimately ended being drafted by the Chargers in the second round.

Attaochu and Highsmith are nearly identical in terms of height, weight, and length entering the league, and they both win in similar ways. In the NFL, Attaochu hasn’t quite lived up to the second-round hype, but he’s going on his 7th NFL season (albeit with his 3rd team), and he has earned 15.5 sacks and 25 tackles for a loss as a rotational pass rusher – something former Steeler Anthony Chickillo didn’t come close to doing in his first five seasons.

Next. Steelers Outlook: Pro comparisons for WR Chase Claypool. dark

Obviously, fans are hoping for Highsmith to be Bud Dupree’s replacement on defense, but it’s important to remember where he was drafted (just five picks away from the 4th round) and to curb expectations a bit. However, Highsmith is an extremely dedicated worker who has enough tools and athleticism to succeed at the next level. Let’s hope he’s closer to Yannick Ngakoue than to Tim Williams.

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