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The Dallas Cowboys are considering a trade for Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith, leveraging their two top-20 draft picks. This move aims to enhance their defense under new coordinator Christian Parker.
The Dallas Cowboys should look into pulling off a trade for Pittsburgh Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith, and theyâre uniquely positioned to make sure they get him.
The Dallas Cowboys are the one team most expected to move up early in the 2026 NFL Draft as they hold two picks in the Top 20. But today, weâre discussing a different kind of trade.
One for a proven edge rusher for Christian Parkerâs new-look defense with the Cowboys: Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.
In a recent article for Yahoo! Sports, insider Charles Robinson revealed Highsmithâs name has emerged as a trade candidate ahead of the draft. And I believe the Cowboys are equipped to make the Steelers the offer.
âHighsmith's name, along with fellow edge Nick Herbig are definitely floating around front offices as the draft approaches,â Robinson writes.
Though teammate Nick Herbig is also an option, Highsmith is the âlikelier candidate to get moved.â
âHighsmith turns 29 in August and still has two years remaining for a total scheduled base salary of $30 million ($14.5 in 2026 and $15.5 in 2027),â Robinson writes. âWith a strong year in 2026, it's expected he'll try to get back to the negotiating table for an extension that resets his salary and gets him another two years of guaranteed money.â
The Cowboys would likely be glad to lower Highsmithâs cap hit in exchange of additional guaranteed money right from the get go. They took a similar approach with Rashan Gary earlier in the year. And landing a 28-year-old productive edge rusher would be a big win for the front office.
The Cowboys can leverage their two top-20 draft picks to create an attractive trade offer for Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith.
Alex Highsmith has emerged as a trade candidate due to his proven performance and the Steelers' potential interest in reshaping their roster ahead of the draft.
Acquiring Highsmith could significantly bolster the Cowboys' defense, providing a proven edge rusher to enhance their pass rush under new coordinator Christian Parker.
The 2026 NFL Draft is significant for the Cowboys as they hold two picks in the top 20, allowing them to make strategic moves, including potential trades for established players like Highsmith.

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Despite missing four games last season, Highsmith finished the season with 9.5 sacks and 44 quarterback pressures. Pro Football Focus graded him as a Top 15 edge rusher in the NFL.
I donât expect Highsmith to be a cheap get for multiple reasons. First, at 28 years old, heâs high-caliber play isnât going anywhere anytime soon. Secondly, heâs already under contract for the next two seasons. Lastly, if the Steelers indeed shop him around, the Cowboys wonât be the only ones picking up the phone.
So Iâm aiming for value similar to a second-round pick for Pittsburgh. Hereâs how Dallas gets there:
Per the Rich Hill trade chart, the above compensation is the equivalent to a middle round second-round pick.
The Cowboys would pick back-to-back at No. 20 and 21 while landing a significant upgrade at edge rusher that screams scheme fit for Parker. Losing No. 92 hurts, but Dallas wonât find a starter that deep in the third round.
For a better understanding of how the Steelers would feel about the offer, I reached out to our own Rob Gregson from A to Z Sports Pittsburgh.
You know it's NFL Draft week when the pre-draft rumors of trades start flying, and one of the best pass rushers in recent Steelers memory is at the forefront.
At the surface level, you see an EDGE rotation that looks crowded with the likes of T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. That's true to a certain extent, but the Steelers rotate their pass rushers a ton. Maybe that changes under Pat Graham.
But from Highsmith's perspective, he was the most productive pass rusher on the team in 2025. He's firmly entrenched in his prime, and unlike Herbig, he's an every down player as someone who is stout against the run.
For the Steelers to truly consider trading Highsmith, it's gotta be a serious offer. One like this one from the Cowboys. I would imagine Khan and Co. would think long and hard about a that level of capital, and it may be too good of an offer to refuse. â Rob Gregson