The Indianapolis Colts entered the season with a big need for pass-rushing help. Fast forward to today, and that hasn't changed much. They added Arden Key, but he's been a backup for most of his career, and rookie George Gumbs Jr. is a project.
As such, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see general manager Chris Ballard keep an eye out for what might be available in the trade market. Even if he has to wait until the deadline, this must be addressed.
Looking at the players who might be traded at some point this season, the Colts should circle Alex Highsmith. His future with the Pittsburgh Steelers is in question, and he can probably be had at the right price.
The Indianapolis Colts should be all over Alex Highsmith
Highsmith is one of the most underrated headhunters in the game. A former third-round pick, he's logged 91 quarterback hits, 64 tackles for loss, and 45 sacks in his six years, all with the Steelers. As such, Mike McCarthy's team should want to keep him around for the remainder of his career.
Nevertheless, the Steelers just gave fellow pass rusher Nick Herbig a $100 million contract extension, and they were already paying T.J. Watt $41 million a year. Herbig still has two years left in his four-year, $68 million contract (all figures per Spotrac). There's only so much money to throw around, so they might be forced to make a decision soon.
That will especially be the case if the Steelers get off to a slow start to the season. They have a new coaching staff, an aging defense, and a quarterback way past his prime, so they might not be able to flirt with .500 football this time around. If they're sellers, Highsmith will be in high demand.
Of course, the Colts also have to figure out how to lower the Steelers' potential asking price. They won't have a first-round pick in 2027 because of the Sauce Gardner trade, so they shouldn't give up a second as well. Still, the Steelers can probably be talked into taking one of the Colts' young players and a mid-round pick to get Highsmith's contract off their books.
Highsmith has spent his career in a 3-4 scheme, but that shouldn't be much of a factor in Lou Anarumo's system. He's always disguising coverages, shaking up things, and has never fully committed to a 4-3 defense, just on paper.
Often overlooked, Highsmith is also an elite run defender, and with all the doubts about Jaylahn Tuimoloau and a big need for someone to line up opposite Laiatu Latu, he's as clear a potential target as they come.
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