"They Could": Steelers Not Ruling Out Another Surprising Summertime Trade

The Pittsburgh Steelers have earned the reputation of being much more aggressive ever since Omar Khan was promoted to become the team's general manager in May of 2022. Previously, the organization was stuck in its own ways and didn't stray away from the path that had been paved for decades. Time and time again, this regime has took many by surprise. This was especially the case back in the 2025 offseason. The league's news cycle was pretty dull and dry until the franchise in the Steel City traded star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith.

The roster seems pretty set in stone as the team works through 2026 Organized Team Activities (OTAs), but Khan has proven that he is not afraid to make a move if it makes sense for the Steelers. Fans will remain on the edge of their seats throughout the summertime because it is never known when something could end up happening. Pittsburgh is always going to be willing to take calls from organizations across the league.

When fans think about which individuals could potentially be shopped over the course of the next few months, it's hard to find a large list of candidates. The depth chart seems to be in a good place, and most players that should be negotiating new contracts will likely be okay proving themselves in 2026 to earn a bigger payday once the 2027 offseason rolls around.

There might be one exception, however. Nick Herbig is a rising edge rusher that could get paid after his rookie contract expires. The Steelers would like to keep him around, but two dominant defenders are already playing under sizable deals. TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith came up in a recent Gerry Dulac chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which has to get one thinking.

"The Steelers made a trade in June of 2025 that included a top player in Minkah Fitzparick," a fan noted. "Could the team do the same with Highsmith in order to then sign Herbig to a new deal? Or is sending Watt off in 2027 more likely? Thanks Gerry."

In an interesting response, one of the team's top insiders didn't hold back the fact that the Steelers could already be pondering ways to lock in Herbig while parting ways with one of the others.

"Of course they could," Dulac wrote. "And maybe that is something they are already thinking."

Dulac didn't specify which of the two ahead of Herbig might be dealt; however, it has always seemed as if Watt would be a one-helmet type of guy. That would lead to Highsmith potentially being gone sooner rather than later.

There's always the slim chance that Herbig could end up being the one sent on his way via a trade, but it seems very unlikely. Football is a business and touch decisions need to be made. The Steelers need to decide whether loyalty to Watt is more important than hypothetically having Highsmith and Herbig run the show for years to come.

There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to Pittsburgh's edge rusher room. The main fact of the matter is that Herbig is way too promising to let walk in free agency come 2027. It would be a massive mistake simply based on his game-changing ability alone. Khan is in a tough spot, so it will be intriguing to keep an eye on how the situation plays out.

Steelers Have Nailed The Edge Rusher Position In The NFL Draft

Pittsburgh was once known for finding top-notch wide receivers during the NFL Draft most years, and it's fair to shift that focus to the pass rusher spot. It is one of the most important positions in all of football, so the success of pairing Watt, Highsmith and Herbig cannot go understated. Unfortunately, sometimes that can lead to several difficult decisions down the line — like the one Khan is facing in 2026.

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