What Would You Trade for Highsmith?

[Stout]

Rumor out of Pittsburgh is that they want to move one of their edge rushers for draft capital. Trading Watt would bring a ton back, but they may not be ready to move him on. Alex Highsmith is a different proposition.

Highsmith is a polarizing edge rusher. On his day, while healthy, he is a beast rushing the passer. When healthy is the key, as he missed 6 games this season, but he did play 17, 17, 16, and 16 in his previous four seasons. 6 sacks in 11 games this year is a good return, however...he only had 7 the year before. True, Watt's injuries opposite him have hurt his production, but then does that mean he can't be counted on to be "the guy?" Go back 2 seasons and you'll find the monster 14.5 sack season that got him paid. Can he return to this form? Can he do it away from the Stillers? Inquiring minds want to know!

So, if the Stillers decide to shop an edge and want to keep Watt as a legacy player, what, if anything, would you trade to acquire Highsmith?

 

[Cardiac]

5th

 

[DVontel]

What’s polarizing about him?

 

[PDXChris]

Even in just 11 games he still had 20 pressures along with 6 sacks and only blitzed 29 times. He is only 27, under contract for 3 more years and we'd get him at about $15 million a year. I'd go a 3rd for him.

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[Goldfield]

We need edge badly

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I'd go 3rd or 4th. Brian Burns, who is younger and better went for basically a 2nd(there may have been some later round flipping of picks involved) so that sounds about right. Do the Steelers have any supposed cap issues? Because that could affect their return if they're perceived to "have to" trade him.

 

[Stout]

What’s polarizing about him?

Is he good enough to be "the guy" or is he a product of playing opposite of Watt? That's what is bandied about in Stiller country.

 

[Dback Jon]

Is he good enough to be "the guy" or is he a product of playing opposite of Watt? That's what is bandied about in Stiller country.

Or has Watt run his course in Pitt?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Is he good enough to be "the guy" or is he a product of playing opposite of Watt? That's what is bandied about in Stiller country.

I don't think he is good enough to be the guy that can beat double teams, I'd pay a conditional 3rd, even having said that.

 

[Stout]

Or has Watt run his course in Pitt?

A lot of sports talk radio opines that trading Watt for a haul is the correct decision, because otherwise he won't be here and see a winner. OTOH, most of those same pundits believe the Stillers will never trade him, that they view him as a legacy, "one helmet" player. We shall see.

Now, what if Watt were available for trade? I won't start another thread for it, but what would you trade for Watt?

 

[Shane]

A lot of sports talk radio opines that trading Watt for a haul is the correct decision, because otherwise he won't be here and see a winner. OTOH, most of those same pundits believe the Stillers will never trade him, that they view him as a legacy, "one helmet" player. We shall see.

Now, what if Watt were available for trade? I won't start another thread for it, but what would you trade for Watt?

The guy is entering his 9th season and on the wrong side of 30 now. I’d prob give up a 1st still. But not a “haul” his brothers career clearly started to catch up with him in both productivity and health at this point. Not hard to see that happening to TJ as well. Father Time in a sport where the average career is 5.5 years catches all of them.

 

[Chopper0080]

A lot of sports talk radio opines that trading Watt for a haul is the correct decision, because otherwise he won't be here and see a winner. OTOH, most of those same pundits believe the Stillers will never trade him, that they view him as a legacy, "one helmet" player. We shall see.

Now, what if Watt were available for trade? I won't start another thread for it, but what would you trade for Watt?

Yeah, I have heard the Watt rumors but I also agree that he seems to be the type of player the Steelers keep. The tricky part is they don't really need the cap space so the incentive to take a 2nd round pick for him is less.

 

[Chopper0080]

Watt will also be in the last year of his contract so that reduces the compensation. A high pick and having to pony up big dollars for a 30+ player generally doesn't appeal to GMs.

 

[Chopper0080]

We need edge badly

Are we still doing phrasing?

 

[Cardinal88]

For TJ Watt, I'd give up a 2nd but no more. I'd make the trade and before the ink is dry, I'd sign him to an extension for 2 years and immediately get on the phone with JJ to see if he wants to pony up for another 2 years to play by his brother. Then I would sign Azeez. They can all become the bash brothers in the desert. I would also sign Calais Campbell for nastalgia's sake since he shouldn't have left in the first place. We could be set on defense with our current young guns with some elders to teach them how to be pros.

What do I know, I'm just a fan with hopes and dreams with no money!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

A lot of sports talk radio opines that trading Watt for a haul is the correct decision, because otherwise he won't be here and see a winner. OTOH, most of those same pundits believe the Stillers will never trade him, that they view him as a legacy, "one helmet" player. We shall see.

Now, what if Watt were available for trade? I won't start another thread for it, but what would you trade for Watt?

1st and probably a 3rd at a minimum.
That said, if he wants to see a winner, why would he choose here?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Watt will also be in the last year of his contract so that reduces the compensation. A high pick and having to pony up big dollars for a 30+ player generally doesn't appeal to GMs.

I didn't realize that when I said 1st and 3rd. I'd still easily give up the first though.

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

Edge rushers are easier to find in the draft, we need a pocket pushing DT more imo. Highsmith is injury prone, that sounds like a trade Keim would spend big on lol.

 

[Shane]

Alex Highsmith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Alex Highsmith. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

Edge rushers are easier to find in the draft, we need a pocket pushing DT more imo. Highsmith is injury prone, that sounds like a trade Keim would spend big on lol.

The guy had a non serious injury last year and played every game his rookie year, nothing about this reeks of injury prone… especially when he played the entire 20, 21, 22, and 23 seasons

 

[PDXChris]

Alex Highsmith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Alex Highsmith. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

The guy had a non serious injury last year and his rookie year, but nothing about this reeks of injury prone… especially when you played the entire 21, 22, and 23 season

He played all 16 games his rookie year too, just didn't start until the last 5 games. He didn't miss a game until this past season with a groin injury.

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[PDXChris]

Also, the year Watt missed nearly half the season, Highsmith set his career high in sacks with 14.5. Interesting!

 

[Shane]

He played all 16 games his rookie year too, just didn't start until the last 5 games. He didn't miss a game until this past season with a groin injury.

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ahhh cool thanks i updated my post

 

[Harry]

Not enough tread for a 3rd or higher.

 

[Shane]

Not enough tread for a 3rd or higher.

??? Tread? The guy is only 27

 

[PDXChris]

??? Tread? The guy is only 27

A fun comparison is Chandler Jones, who was just a year younger when we traded for him. They actually have very similar numbers too to start their careers. We gave a second round pick and Jonathan Cooper.

I took out Highsmith's rookie year to give them both 4 years. Chandler's first 4 in NE before we traded for him and the last 4 for Highsmith, including this last year with missing games for Jones.

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Chandler Jones (2012-2015) vs. Alex Highsmith (2021-2024): Head-to-Head Stats Comparison | Stathead.com

Compare Players: Check out the head-to-head stats of Chandler Jones (2012-2015) and Alex Highsmith (2021-2024) including their awards, honors, championships, playoff and regular season stats, and much more on Stathead.com

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