After re-signing Nick Herbig to a long-term contract extension, the Pittsburgh Steelers must face a difficult decision. It is clear that Alex Highsmith is the most likely candidate among the edge rushers to be moved at some point within the next year, but the possibility of trading T.J. Watt should not be completely dismissed either. With that in mind, Highsmith still appears to be the odd man out.
Highsmith has been a terrific player in Pittsburgh and even outperformed Watt last season. He remains a highly effective contributor, and if he were made available in a trade, many teams across the NFL would show strong interest. If the Steelers were willing to move Highsmith, this mock trade presents a logical path forward.
Sending him to the NFC would be ideal, especially if it helps address a long-standing weakness on the roster.
Whichever team acquires Highsmith in a deal would likely be a legitimate contender. Several NFC teams are aiming to compete for a Super Bowl this season, and after the Los Angeles Rams added Myles Garrett, others in the conference will feel pressure to improve. The San Francisco 49ers could emerge as an intriguing trade partner for the Steelers in what could become a blockbuster move.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen for star inside linebacker
This mock trade would generate significant buzz across the NFL in what would be viewed as a blockbuster deal. It offers a clear benefit for both sides, as the 49ers would strengthen their pass rush and add a legitimate upgrade to help ease the pressure on Nick Bosa. Meanwhile, the Steelers would finally address a long-standing need at inside linebacker by bringing in Fred Warner.
When breaking this down, the 49ers would greatly weaken their inside linebacker position by moving Fred Warner to the Steelers in this deal. Patrick Queen is not on Warner’s level, but he is still a solid contributor and far from a liability. For San Francisco, the primary focus would be acquiring a dynamic pass rusher like Highsmith as the centerpiece of the trade.
This move would allow the 49ers to spread talent more evenly across their defense, even though it would come at the cost of losing a star player to Pittsburgh.
Looking at this from Pittsburgh’s perspective, they would finally land the elite inside linebacker they have been searching for since Ryan Shazier’s career was cut short by injury. Warner is one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL, if not the very best, and he would step into Pittsburgh’s defense and make an immediate impact.
While giving up Highsmith would sting, the presence of T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig, and Jack Sawyer would help soften the blow.
Sending out two starters in this mock trade would represent a bold gamble for the Steelers. While Highsmith is a quality player, he is unlikely to reach the elite level that Warner would bring to Pittsburgh. Overall, this deal presents a strong outcome for both sides and would reshape the Steelers’ defense for the foreseeable future.
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