I like Highsmith. I think he's developed into a sold player at a position which the Steelers are severely lacking depth behind him. So I understand why they value him. I just don't think he's worth 17 million a year. He's a good pass rusher. But he's not a top ten elite pass rusher, and now they're paying him like one.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
Highsmith extended
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Given that he had 1 year left at 2M (which he wasn't worth either) the average for the 5 years is about 14M, can you live with that as a fair price for 5 years of his services?
I would think decent pass rushers at such a premium position aren't cheap. Unless they are flawed or pushing father time.
I can live with whatever the Steelers do; I have no choice.
They had Highsmith at $2,743,000 in 2023 no matter what. And players tend to perform better in the year their contract is expiring. I guess the Steelers didn't want to take the chance of him having a monster season, and blowing up to the top five range of 23-24 million -- but was any team really going to offer him that type of money in free agency next year? I'm not sure.
What I do know is: Even averaged in at 14.15 million per, Highsmith is still the 16th highest paid edge rusher in the NFL. Haason Reddick makes 15 million. I'd rather have a guy like Reddick in that price range, myself.
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1. He probably wasn't resigning with the Steelers if they made him play at 2.7M this season.
2. Reddick isn't signing a new contract for 15M and you know it.
Just my opinion to your points
P.S.: you know what I mean with "can you live with those numbers?" No need to get the obvious answer, nothing we say or do changes anything.
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A lot of good points Litos and thanks for all your great post(s) along the way…..
Keep in mind though, a ride in the LUXURY S10,…….. will change everything………..
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In regards to Highsmith keep bringing up that he “only” had 4 sacks in the 7 games Watt missed… as if somehow that was bad … it projects out to 9.75 sacks in a 17 game season, still top 20 edge rusher numbers…
Had he gotten to ufa, retaining him would have been extremely expensive, especially if he had another great year..
Because the offense is EXTREMELY young, they have the luxury of spending more on the D… when Heyward retires and the other D guys start aging out, that money will go towards the Offense and you will see more draft picks on D again.
Had he gotten to ufa, retaining him would have been extremely expensive, especially if he had another great year..
Because the offense is EXTREMELY young, they have the luxury of spending more on the D… when Heyward retires and the other D guys start aging out, that money will go towards the Offense and you will see more draft picks on D again.
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And those 4 sacks with almost zero depth help on the other side of the line
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As a developing second-year player from a group of 5 school, yes.
1. So what? So they would have gotten maximum effort for maximum value from Highsmith for one year. Meanwhile, they groom Herbig, and he steps into Highsmith's role next season at a fraction of the cost. Or if he doesn't pan out, they find a replacement in free agency. Instead, they've got an overpaid Bud Dupree Jr. sitting on a new fat contract with nothing left to prove. Sounds good to you?
2. I'm not talking about what Reddick is going to sign for in 2025. He already signed a 3-year, $45 million contract with the Eagles in 2022, after coming off of two consecutive double-digit sack seasons. Highsmith has had one season with more than six sacks, and the Steelers will be paying him more than Reddick starting next year.
Highsmith had 3.5 sacks in those 7 games, not 4. That's 8.5 sacks over 17 games, good for 27th in the league.
You're the guy talking about how lucky it is to have the #2 opposite a premier rusher having 6 or 7 sacks. When I point out that's exactly what Highsmith had, now you want to qualify it.
Let's see how he does this year, his fourth year out of that group of 5 school, now that the money is in the bank.
I will surprised and disappointed if he gets less than 10 this year. But let's just wait and see.
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If it's in anyway close, the Steelers will always sign their own guy instead of another's.
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I didn't qualify it. The options were to keep Highsmith, break the bank in free agency, sign a bargain player who won't produce, or draft a player and wait 2-3 years for them to develop. Highsmith was in the 2-3 years to develop category.
I'd rather not waste the rest of Watt's prime floundering around trying to find another pass rusher.
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ALSO ADD in the fact that when TJ WATT was out, that afforded the opposing offense to actually game plan Alex Highsmith. Those offenses have to game plan TJ when he is in playing, but they also can’t forget Highsmith whether TJ is healthy or not.
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Pretty sure he’s not even going to be the best on his team at the whole “strip sack/forced fumbles thing” much less the leagueWasn’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!
That would be one Mr. Watt, the man who earned Alex that second inflated contract
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Here’s the contract breakdown: https://overthecap.com/player/alex-highsmith/8842
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I would find a reasonable expectation for a top 10 paid edge is to be highly productive Whether someone else is taking away the attention or not.
Hopefully he continues to progress and becomes the Batman, rather than Robin, then the contract is a value
If he does what he does when Watt not there, then the Steelers slightly over paid.
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Given the guaranteed money and how that is structured I’m certainly optimistic he plays at least near the value of that contract
And it does usually feel like a victory when good young players stay with the team rather than getting the 15-20 per some desperate outsider would’ve payed
What an ***-hole comment. Maybe you should look up who led the league last year in forced fumbles. Tied with Hassan Reddick with 5.... none other than our Alex Highsmith. Of course TJ is great. Nothing wrong with giving our own credit for leading the league last year. Too bad you were too ******* lazy to look it up. SMH.
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You expect Watt to miss a significant amount of time?
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What a twatwaffle replyWhat an ***-hole comment. Maybe you should look up who led the league last year in forced fumbles. Tied with Hassan Reddick with 5.... none other than our Alex Highsmith. Of course TJ is great. Nothing wrong with giving our own credit for leading the league last year. Too bad you were too ******* lazy to look it up. SMH.
Find one same Steeler fan that believes Highsmith, and his 1 career year of 5 FF and 14.5 sacks, is better at the whole “strip sack/forced fumble” thing than Watt…your assertion jack astronaut
Already know the stats of FF and sacks you should check them more thoroughly before you come back with more BS and see Watt reigning supreme year after year…ope except that one year when he was injured and threw Alex a bone
Alex is good…we all know who owns that category tho and it ain’t even close
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Never said that, I don’t expect that but do see it as the probability it is and am optimistic he doesn’t
Just said a guy getting paid top 10 should be a Batman guy
Should be able to produce as “the guy” no matter the situation
If said dude is a Robin, then the Steelers overpaid for a side kick’s services
I still don’t know if he is good or great and the contract seems like a slight hedge to keep him towards an overpayment, but if he grows upon last year and we have 2 Batmen then well his contract will be extremely preferential to the Steelers
Well see soon, can’t wait