6 Steelers who have flashed the potential to be elite

Steelers Alex Highsmith

One of the hottest names from the Steelers offseason, Alex Highsmith has lived up to the lofty expectations that he set. While he hasn’t set the world on fire in terms of production, he has been a regular force on defense in both run defense and pass defense. In terms of getting after the quarterback, no one on this team is as quick off the snap as Highsmith. His burst off the line is his most impressive trait.

As a speed rusher, Highsmith is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with across from T.J. Watt. While he only has 1.5 sacks, those numbers should steadily increase as he gets healthier and continues to play more snaps. Impressively, he was on the field for 100 percent of the team’s snaps against the Seahawks, more than either Watt or Melvin Ingram. The team sees the potential in Highsmith, and odds are he has a great continuation to his season after the bye week.

Long term, Highsmith could become one of the better speed rushers in the league. Playing across from Watt helps, but Highsmith has shown a lot of positive traits in just his second season as a pro. Assuming he continues refining his skills, the sky is the limit for him. He has the potential to form the best pass-rushing duo in the league with Watt by next year. His play has been lights out, and it looks like the Steelers got a steal last year in the third round of the draft.