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Highsmith extended

Wasn’t recruited out of high school. Walk on at Charlotte. 3rd round pick. Great story. Has not missed a game. I love seeing our own draft picks get a second contract. Much more so than free agents. He does the strip sack/ forced fumbles thing better than anybody in the NFL the last couple years. He’s made many splash plays. He is just about to turn 26,we will have him for his prime years. Great signing! Hope you had a pre-nup in place Alex!🤑🤑
 
Heyward has two years left on his deal and as long as he doesn't drop off significantly in play he will play those out. After than he likely retires with an outside chance at going somewhere else for a season.

This is a win/win situation for Highsmith and the Steelers. He wea set to make 2.7m and now turns that into a guaranteed 27.7 million. He protects himself from an injury hurting his next contract and gets a fair deal to boot. He also gets one more decent deal to sign likely (with us or with someone else) after this contract. Not bad for a walk on at Charolette.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Another issue would also be, if Highsmith left after this season, who steps in? I don't see Herbig as a long-term answer at OLB. If they sign a free agent who can produce, he'll cost a ton. That leaves a high draft choice. Pass rushers can take 2-3 years to develop, especially where the Steelers usually pick in the draft. You just waste the rest of Watt's prime developing a replacement.

Remember, when this defense is healthy and on the field, they are a terrific unit who puts the Steelers in position to win every week as the offense bumbles down the field.
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We don't know what Herbig is. He gets some time to develop. You have him wrapped up for 4 years. He could be an important player. TJ takes a break three or 4 times a game. Same is going to start for Highsmith. And none of these guys play forever.
 
Honestly if the Steelers are not in the mix at trade deadline (I believe they will be) I'd be awfully tempted to move Heyward. He would be a huge piece for the right team poised for a big run. He is only a 6m cut next year. I'm not talking day three pick but a day two.......I'd have to consider. Plus that dude deserves a run at the Lombardi.
 
SteelerSask2 said:
Honestly if the Steelers are not in the mix at trade deadline (I believe they will be) I'd be awfully tempted to move Heyward. He would be a huge piece for the right team poised for a big run. He is only a 6m cut next year. I'm not talking day three pick but a day two.......I'd have to consider. Plus that dude deserves a run at the Lombardi.
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I would only consider than if Heyward was ok with it and going to a contender.
 
TDX27 said:
His numbers would have been 8 to 9 sacks over an entire 17-game season without Watt. He had 3.5 sacks in 7 games. That is not very good and definitely not worth $17 million or anywhere near it. He needs to keep improving (significantly) and prove he can put up numbers without Watt. So far, he has not so this is a pretty big gamble and it definitely is a big cap hit in at least years 3, 4, and 5. They definitely won't be signing Cam now after this year. They will let him ride out his contract and see if they can get him cheap. There will be many more decisions coming up in a couple years. Muuth is set to make $15 million per (give or take a million).
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Why does he have to prove he will put up numbers without Watt? Where is Watt going? And if Watt isn't playing because he is hurt we have bigger problems than Highsmith's contract I would think.
 
Steelr4evr said:
Good for him! He never has to work again after football.

Now go win a superbowl!
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Do it for Cam before he retires for goodness sake.

Wouldn't it be cool if Pickett one day soon asks Cam to hang on one more year, promising to win the Super Bowl....as Ben made the same promise to The Bus.
 
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stillwright said:
Why does he have to prove he will put up numbers without Watt? Where is Watt going? And if Watt isn't playing because he is hurt we have bigger problems than Highsmith's contract I would think.
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Because now Highsmith has a premium contract for his position, and a top ten level of production should be expected from him, with or without Watt on the field. Which actually happens quite a bit depending on game flow, even when TJ is healthy. He still takes a bunch of snaps off here and there.

Does a half sack per game put Highsmith among the NFL sack leaders? No, it doesn't. I believe that is TDX27's point, and it is valid.
 
topseed said:
Because now Highsmith has a premium contract for his position, and a top ten level of production should be expected from him, with or without Watt on the field. Which actually happens quite a bit depending on game flow, even when TJ is healthy. He still takes a bunch of snaps off here and there.

Does a half sack per game put Highsmith among the NFL sack leaders? No, it doesn't. I believe that is TDX27's point, and it is valid.
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There also aren't any No. 2 pass rushers putting up 14.5 sacks, which has only been done 21 times in five seasons. A lot of the teams with an elite pass rusher would have a second option that's lucky to get to 6-7 sacks. Highsmith needs to maintain a high level of production. I don't think he's going to pull a Woodley.
 
Here is what everyone needs to understand. You are paid for what they believe they can get out of you. Across from Watt I believe he can put up 15 sacks next year and 4 turnovers. So there is a price for that. You can pay him, you can pay someone else or you can draft a guy in the top 2 rounds and I wouldn't say any of it is a sure thing. So tell me what you think they could have done differently 🤔
 
I’m not in love with the deal, but the guaranteed money makes it to where if his production falls of and he doesn’t play to the level of the contract value, the Steelers don’t have to be on the hook for the most expensive years of the contract.
 
The 28M guaranteed money is the key thing people who doesnt like the deal got to focus on.

If he doesn't pan out he will be cut after his 2nd year, there's no albatross hanging around the FO neck with this deal and as others already said, with the increasing cap his contract will look like a middle of the pack guy for that 3rd pivotal year
 
Sarge said:
I’m not in love with the deal, but the guaranteed money makes it to where if his production falls of and he doesn’t play to the level of the contract value, the Steelers don’t have to be on the hook for the most expensive years of the contract.
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THIS, you have to look at the contract as a whole and not just as a season per season.

Thanks for all your great post(s) along the way.


Salute the3 nation
 
The thing is… in 2020 we gave dupree 15.8 million dollars to play second fiddle… that was 8% of that years cap… this contract is 7.5% of this years cap… its a better value than peak Dupree for what essentially is a better all around player who will only be in his fifth season when the extension kicks in… dupree was in his sixth when he got his deal…
 
So those complaining that you shouldn't pay Robin when you have Batman. He got 14.5 sacks withTJ on an all but one game 10 game hobbled season. What can he do if TJ plays 17 this year?
Secondly, listened to TJ on Footbahlin this morning. TJ prefers the left. His bend, his moves and he feels he can get the ball out everytime going at the Q's face. Now if TJ doesn't get chipped or helped by a back technically Highsmith has the more difficult assignment beating the premium pass blocking LT.
 
SteelerSask2 said:
So those complaining that you shouldn't pay Robin when you have Batman. He got 14.5 sacks withTJ on an all but one game 10 game hobbled season. What can he do if TJ plays 17 this year?
Secondly, listened to TJ on Footbahlin this morning. TJ prefers the left. His bend, his moves and he feels he can get the ball out everytime going at the Q's face. Now if TJ doesn't get chipped or helped by a back technically Highsmith has the more difficult assignment beating the premium pass blocking LT.
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As you outlined above, the Steelers could've either (a) pay Highsmith, (b) sign an UFA for just as much, not more, (c) draft high and wait 2-3 years until they develop, or (d) find a cheap replacement off the scrapheap and hope they are competent. They chose correctly this time. Highsmith is a rising player and he doesn't need 14.5 sacks every year to justify this deal. He is good in all aspect of his game, young, complements TJ well, and helps stabilize the pass rush through the rest of Watt's prime years.

When this defense is completely healthy, they are very good. The Steelers make the playoffs last year if Watt doesn't miss any games and they rely on the defense to keep games close. Now with Andy Weidl helping to run the front office, we already saw an investment into the offensive line. Well, the other thing the Eagles value is pass rushers. They were incredibly deep last year with 5 players having 7 or more sacks (4 with 11 or more). They lost Hargrave and replaced him with Carter AND drafted Smith. Look at the Steelers. Watt, Highsmith, Heyward. Who did they draft? Keeanu Benton, the IDL with the highest pass rushing upside in that tier 2 of defensive linemen in the draft.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
As you outlined above, the Steelers could've either (a) pay Highsmith, (b) sign an UFA for just as much, not more, (c) draft high and wait 2-3 years until they develop, or (d) find a cheap replacement off the scrapheap and hope they are competent. They chose correctly this time. Highsmith is a rising player and he doesn't need 14.5 sacks every year to justify this deal. He is good in all aspect of his game, young, complements TJ well, and helps stabilize the pass rush through the rest of Watt's prime years.

When this defense is completely healthy, they are very good. The Steelers make the playoffs last year if Watt doesn't miss any games and they rely on the defense to keep games close. Now with Andy Weidl helping to run the front office, we already saw an investment into the offensive line. Well, the other thing the Eagles value is pass rushers. They were incredibly deep last year with 5 players having 7 or more sacks (4 with 11 or more). They lost Hargrave and replaced him with Carter AND drafted Smith. Look at the Steelers. Watt, Highsmith, Heyward. Who did they draft? Keeanu Benton, the IDL with the highest pass rushing upside in that tier 2 of defensive linemen in the draft.
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I watched his highlights this morning. He has a very good dip and rip. He is very quick off the ball, he has a devastating spin and he holds edge well. What more do you really want.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
There also aren't any No. 2 pass rushers putting up 14.5 sacks, which has only been done 21 times in five seasons. A lot of the teams with an elite pass rusher would have a second option that's lucky to get to 6-7 sacks. Highsmith needs to maintain a high level of production. I don't think he's going to pull a Woodley.
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You mean like the 6 sacks that Highsmith had in 2021, when Watt started 15 of 16 games?
 
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