Steelers: Latest betting odds may impact Alex Highsmith's future
The AFC North is chock-full of elite edge rushing talent, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have arguably the best in the business in former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Pro T.J. Watt. Alex Highsmith is no slouch himself as Watt's bookend edge rusher. The fourth-year player is coming off an impressive 2022 campaign in […]
The AFC North is chock-full of elite edge rushing talent, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have arguably the best in the business in former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Pro T.J. Watt.
Alex Highsmith is no slouch himself as Watt's bookend edge rusher. The fourth-year player is coming off an impressive 2022 campaign in which he produced 14.5 sacks and 55 pressures.
Highsmith is entering a pivotal contract year and has maintained a mindset of wanting to stick around in Pittsburgh. But the third-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft could have some competition to be in the Steelers' long-term plans.
Chase Young, the second-overall pick from that same 2020 class, is also entering the last year of his rookie contract and is a prime candidate to be traded from the Washington Commanders.
The Steelers were given the seventh-best odds to land the former Ohio State standout defensive lineman. Only the Houston Texans have better odds to land him as an AFC team according to BetOnline.com.
Young's career started perfectly in Washington. He was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 after putting up 7.5 sacks as a 15-game starter. The following two years for him have been so far from that level of success.
In just 12 combined games, Young has registered just 1.5 sacks since the start of the 2021 season. His modest start to 2021 abruptly ended when he tore his ACL in Week 10.
The season-ending injury carried well over into 2022, as he didn't get onto the field until Week 16.
The last two years have forced Washington to be realistic about the 24-year old's future. And team that would acquire him would be buying low in the hopes he returns to the 2020 form in a contract year.
Pittsburgh could definitely use the help on the edge. They drafted Nick Herbig in the fourth round of this year's draft, and signed Markus Golden to a cheap one-year deal late in free agency.
A trade for Young would give the Steelers an ideal piece to an unfinished rotation, but should Young bounce back like they'd hope, it would create a potential dilemma with Highsmith. Which player would they keep long-term if they both played to their potential?
Perhaps this theoretical issue would prohibit the Steelers from making a trade in the first place. Highsmith signing an extension to stick around would be in both party's best interest, and while Young is incredibly enticing when healthy, it would also be a risk.
Featured image via © Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
