The Pittsburgh Steelers had several items they wanted to check off their to-do list before the team reports to training camp on July 26th at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. One of those items was come to terms on a new contract for pass rusher Alex Highsmith.

As fans have been waiting, the Steelers can now check that item off their to-do list. The Steelers and Highsmith have agreed on a 4-year, $68 million dollar contract extension which will pay him in the Top 10 of pass rushers in the NFL, this per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Highsmith is coming off a career high 14.5 sacks in 2022, and this means both he and fellow pass rusher T.J. Watt are locked up for the foreseeable future. If Watt can recover fully from his pectoral injury, and Highsmith continues his current trajectory, they might make up one of the best pass rushing tandems in Steelers history.

As the team now prepares for the rigors of training camp to begin next Wednesday, the only other big item on their to-do list is to sign their last rookie who hasn’t signed his rookie contract yet. That would be none other than 2nd Round pick Joey Porter Jr. It is assumed he will sign before the team reports, and if/when that is done the team will be able to focus solely on preparing for the 2023 season.

Wat do you think of this deal? Is it too much? Not enough? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

UPDATE:

The Steelers have made the signing of Highsmith official.

We have signed LB Alex Highsmith to a new five-year contract. @BordasLaw

📝: https://t.co/QrbUaCd5Zf pic.twitter.com/cL1GiKF2eF

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 19, 2023

For more information on the pay breakdown of Highsmith’s contract, be sure to check out the BREAKING NEWS podcast in the player below: