Alex Highsmith Looks Like Superstar at Steelers Training Camp

UNITY TWP., Pa — Alex Highsmith is coming off an offseason in which he got paid with a 4-year, $68 million extension from the Steelers. Coming off a 14.5 sack season, Highsmith has proven to be a capable pass rusher and a good player. But now, with the money, he has to deliver. But if the first week of training camp is anything to go by, Highsmith is going to do much more than just deliver right out of the chute.

Alex Highsmith is flashing all the moves he has in his arsenal. His spin move looks sharper than it did last year, with his understanding of the leverage and when to pull it out. The ghost move he has is lethal. Then, there are the power options, where Highsmith has legitimate bull rush to work with and stun other linemen with. It has happened to Broderick Jones and Dan Moore Jr. as well.

Highsmith has all the tools to take his game to the next level. The frame is there. His explosiveness has always been underrated. Sometimes, the upside can fly under the radar when the guy comes out of the draft as a polished pass rusher. It seems that is what has happened with Highsmith, who seriously seems to be taking his game to another level.

That would help a Steelers defense that collapsed under the pressure of a T.J. Watt-less streak a year ago. It is clear they can not afford that. Highsmith would have been a double-digit sack guy, but he wasn’t a game-wrecker. Now, he’s looking like a bonafide game-wrecker.

If that ends up happening, the Steelers front would be even deadlier than before. For a team that lives off their pass rush as much as Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin do, another step in the maturation of Highsmith would be a welcome sight. Now, it is time to see if that can translate to the field in games.