It has been an anxious offseason for Alex Highsmith, as his name has surfaced repeatedly in trade speculation. While the Pittsburgh Steelers do not appear eager to move on from any of their edge rushers, they would need to consider a deal if an offer became too good to ignore. That said, Highsmith is unlikely to be moved in a throwaway draft trade, as acquiring him would be costly.
Pittsburgh is typically willing to listen to offers on most of its players, and the dynamic between Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig will continue to develop. At some point, the Steelers must decide which of the two they view as a long-term piece. Herbig appears to be the safer option due to his age and upside, but Highsmith has been a consistently reliable contributor for the team.
If a trade were to occur, it would need to help the Steelers address a clear area of weakness on the roster.
In these mock scenarios, Pittsburgh would move Highsmith to improve its position in the draft, both this year and, in some cases, next year. That approach would allow the team to target significant positions of need more effectively.
There is no urgency to sort out the Highsmith and Herbig situation, so a trade is not necessary this year. But if teams are to come knocking, these three mock trades would make sense.
These Alex Highsmith mock trades would create new possibilities for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the draft
This would not be the first time the Dallas Cowboys have been linked to Highsmith in trade speculation. As they look to upgrade their roster, adding a proven defender from the Steelers would make sense. Such a trade could position Pittsburgh within striking distance of a top receiver in this year’s draft and potentially provide flexibility to secure a quality quarterback next year.
While it is encouraging that the Steelers hold 12 picks in the upcoming draft, it is unlikely they will use all of them.
Several of those selections are expected to be moved as part of various maneuvers to trade up at different points. The most appealing aspect of this proposal is the potential to add an extra pick in next year’s draft, which could prove valuable if Pittsburgh needs to trade up for a young quarterback in the future.
Any potential trade involving Highsmith would require the Steelers to receive a significant return. Rather than simply acquiring an additional draft pick, the team would likely prioritize upgrading the overall value of its selections. In this scenario, Tampa Bay would swap first and third round picks with the Black and Gold, allowing Pittsburgh to move up into a reasonable range for a top-tier prospect.
The Steelers could potentially use this improved draft positioning to their advantage in other trade discussions. By engaging with additional teams, they could move back into the late first round or create momentum early in Round 2. While holding back‑to‑back selections near the top of the third round would be valuable, those picks could also serve as strong trade assets in another deal.
If the Steelers are open to moving Highsmith, dealing him to an NFC team would make sense. The Philadelphia Eagles are known for their aggressive approach, and there has been speculation that A.J. Brown could be discussed in draft‑day trade talks. Those conversations could push Philadelphia to explore other trade options.
Securing additional draft capital in next year’s draft would be critical for the Steelers in any potential Highsmith trade.
If they hope to move up for a quarterback in the future, stockpiling high‑value picks is essential. While this mock deal does not push Pittsburgh up the board in the first round, it does add an extra second‑round selection next year. It may not represent an ideal return, but it is a sensible and forward‑thinking outcome.
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