5 unproven Steelers the team will rely on during 2021 season

Alex Highsmith

There was quite a bit of excitement when the Steelers drafted Alex Highsmith last year. The small school pass rusher was a popular name, but most expected him to need some seasoning at the NFL level before becoming a true starter. He was noticed early and often though last season, serving as the top edge option off the bench after T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. There was even a time when the team was utilizing him and the two starters by having three edge rushers on the field.

After Dupree was lost to the season with a knee injury, Highsmith pretty comfortably filled in. No, his two sacks weren’t elite numbers, but the amount of time he was getting in the quarterback’s face and applying pressure points toward better sack numbers in future years. Remember, he was only a rookie, and one of his biggest draws was his lack of strength. He did most of his damage through technique. Add in a full offseason of conditioning and strength training and Highsmith may breakout next year.

Add in the fact he will be playing across from one of the best overall edge players in the league in Watt and Highsmith should be set to have a great sophomore year. His playing numbers will spike as well (assuming he stays healthy) into the 85-95 percent range. A full offseason mixed in with starting out of the gate will give Highsmith the opportunity to put all of his talents on display. He is the next man up, and don’t be surprised when he is hearing his name talked about as one of the better edge players in 2021.

The Steelers lost quite a few starters this offseason, and as a result, the team will be forced to rely on some in-house options. While each of these players will have varying levels of success, it is almost guaranteed that each will see a jump in playing time.