Steelers new hefty contract to Alex Highsmith brings positive and negative outlooks

Despite the hefty price tag, this contract should not affect too many future deals

When it comes to the potential impact of this deal down the line, there should not be too much. Highsmith does come with a hefty price tag, but the NFL is one that focuses on paying quality pass rushers. He is one of the top pass rushers in the NFL since his breakout performance last season which would have got him a pretty penny on the free agency market if he elected to go that route.

Overall, this is seen as a fair deal for both sides that should not affect too much of what the Steelers want to do going forward. When you look at their free agency classes in 2024 and a couple of years beyond, there are not too many issues with potential free agent departures. There are some starters, but none that can't be replaced by some other younger guys.

One of the strong suits presented to people when Khan was hired was his ability to work around the salary cap. Highsmith might carry a large cap number, but there are alternate routes for handling that concern. There are different ways to restructure his deal to lessen his cap hit on the Steelers for years to come if Khan decides to go that route.

One of the best things that are working in Pittsburgh's favor in terms of cap relief is Kenny Pickett. having a quarterback on a rookie deal helps matters, and that should last another four years if he is able to get better and remain a starter. Paying good players will cost a lot of money, but that is something you need to do so you can keep those players around.