5 reasons that the Steelers signing Ingram was a wrong move

What about Steelers Highsmith

This is easily the worst part about this deal. Based on the talent and the amount given to him, Ingram is likely going to be at least a rotational starter, if not a traditional starter for this team. While Highsmith didn’t post any insane stats as a rookie, he showcased a lot of advanced pass-rushing skills. A full year in an NFL program would have gone a long way in making him a more physically imposing type of player.

Now, perhaps the Steelers aren’t as high on Highsmith as most of the fanbase is. If that’s the case, why would they wait this long to address edge rusher? They could have gone after a plethora of different names, both free agents and in the draft, to either supplement or start over Highsmith. Waiting until the week before camp doesn’t make a lot of sense for the team, as Highsmith hasn’t had a real chance to prove his worth yet.

Had this move been made a week or two into camp, the story would simply be they think they need a better veteran presence over Highsmith. The Steelers are known to do this, as they assess the players they have and add to the spots they need it. If the team was so unsure of Highsmith then a better edge prospect should have been brought in far earlier than now.

On the flip side, if they just want to use Ingram in a heavy rotation, that still stunts the growth of Highsmith. Again, he put up some impressive film as a rookie and seemed poised to have a solid 2021 season. Now, he will have to split time with Ingram and play in a similar role as he did last year with only a slightly expanded role. It seems very unlikely that he can make the necessary jump now considering how his role just shrank.

While the Steelers needed edge depth badly, the signing of Ingram is far from the great move that everyone is making out to be. Yes, the team is better now than before, but they spent quite a bit of money on a player that will seemingly stunt the growth of Highsmith, who should be a future starter. Throw in his injury history and declining play, and Ingram may struggle to make the impact many are anticipating he will. Had this signing been for half the value, it would have been more of a depth move at a fairer price, but at this point, there are so many questions with this new deal. This signing isn’t a bad one by any means, but it certainly isn’t a great one as so many are saying.