PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have reached agreement on a new five-year, $70.743 million contract with outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, preventing him from becoming a free agent at the end of the 2023 season.
Highsmith's deal includes approximately $27.7 million in guaranteed money.
Highsmith, 26, a third-round pick in 2020, is coming off a season in which he led the team with 14.5 sacks, sixth-most in the NFL. He was scheduled to earn $2.743 million this season, the final year of his rookie contract.
Along with T.J. Watt, Highsmith's signing gives the Steelers two of the highest-paid outside linebackers in the league. Watt is the highest-paid edge rusher in the league at an annual average salary of $28,002,750.
Highsmith had a breakout season in 2022, picking up some of the slack when Watt missed seven games with a torn pectoral muscle. He had a career-high three sacks in the season opener in Cincinnati when Watt was hurt and finished the season with 2.5 sacks in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
Only five players had more sacks than Highsmith, who had four fewer than league-leader Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers (18.5). Only Bosa (138) and Philadelphia's Hassan Reddick (133) had more sack yards for loss than Highsmith (118).
Highsmith has also been very durable since becoming a starter late in his rookie season, missing only one of 39 starts. In his past 20 games, he has 17.5 sacks.
While Watt is acclaimed as one of the premier sack producers in the league, Highsmith isn't that far behind his early pace.
Highsmith has 21.5 sacks in his first 38 NFL starts, just four behind Watt's total (25.5) in his first 38 starts.
