30 Scenarios in 30 Days: Alex Highsmith will have double-digit sacks in 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2025 regular season, but before the real games begin, the team has to head to training camp back at Saint Vincent College in order to fine tune their skills. As we here at SCN prepare you for the start of camp, we give you a series called “30 Scenarios in 30 Days” which gives you a Steelers scenario every day leading up to the start of camp.
It is simple how it works. We provide you the scenario, reasons why it will or won’t happen, and then our prediction for what we think will take place.
Let’s get to the scenario…
Scenario: Alex Highsmith will have double-digit sacks in 2025
Why it will happen: When you have someone named Trent Jordan Watt lining up on the other side of the line of scrimmage from you, it will allow someone like Alex Highsmith to have more one-on-ones. What was an oddity last season was Highsmith’s health. Before 2024 Highsmith had stayed extremely healthy throughout his short career. In his first four years, he only missed two games. Your best ability is your availability, and Highsmith had that in spades. However, last season he played in just 11 games after battling multiple soft tissue injuries, more on that later.
However, if Highsmith can return to his previous form, in terms of being available, there is a strong suggestion he will get back to double-digit sacks. Last season, in just 11 games, he was able to have six sacks.
While Highsmith has stayed healthy, outside of 2024, I also don’t want to portray him as a lesser-than player. The Steelers signed him to a big contract for a reason, and it is because he is immensely talented. Highsmith has improved every year as a professional, and him taking a big step forward to getting four more sacks in 2025 isn’t a crazy feat for him to reach. Highsmith is talented enough to make this happen.
Why it won’t happen: This isn’t the first time I’ve done this prediction for the Steelers in the 30 Scenarios in 30 Days series, and the longer Highsmith plays the more I question whether double digit sacks is actually in play for him.
In his first five seasons Highsmith has been relatively consistent outside of the 14.5 sack season in 2022. Unfortunately for Highsmith, his consistency is typically in the single digit range.
Career:
2020: 2
2021: 6
2022: 14.5
2023: 7
2024: 6
On top of his rather mundane statistics 4-out-of-5 seasons, Highsmith also hasn’t shown the ability to win the one-on-one matchups he gets when Watt is being double and triple teamed. on a consistent basis. When he does, there are times when T.J. Watt literally beats him to the quarterback. Highsmith might win some of those matchups, but the fact he is playing with a super freak named T.J. Watt hinders his overall sack production.
Another factor to consider are the team’s inside linebackers. Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison are options at blitzing the quarterback, and the Steelers might adjust their pass rushing scheme to help emphasize this. Unless it is an all-out blitz, there will be occasions when the outside linebackers don’t rush the quarterback in the traditional sense. Great for the defense, but not great for someone like Highsmith reaching double-digit sacks.
Prediction: While I think Highsmith has an improved season, I don’t see him cracking the double-digit sack total in 2025. If someone were to ask me to set a line for Highsmith’s sacks, I’d lean towards 8.5 or 9.5. I’d take the over at 8.5, but the under at 9.5. Yes, I’m predicting 9 sacks for Highsmith in 2025, which would still be a welcome sight for the Steelers defense.
Miss a scenario? You can see the full list of scenarios below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp.
The Steelers will go above and beyond their win-loss prediction in 2025
The Steelers will throw more INTs than last season
The Steelers will eclipse 50 sacks in 2025
The Steelers Defense Will Have More Takeaways This Season
Aaron Rodgers will start all 17 games in 2025
DK Metcalf Will Have Double-Digit Receiving TDs
T.J. Watt will break the single-season sack record
The Steelers Will Rush For More Than 2000 Yards In 2025
The Steelers will have a Top 5 Rush Defense
Jalen Ramsey will return to the Pro Bowl in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record in the AFC North
The Steelers will have a kickoff return for a TD in 2025
Pat Freiermuth will lead the Steelers in touchdowns in 2025
The Steelers will have a winning record at home in 2025
My questions are these, will Tomlin/Austin remove themselves from their fears and actually blitz ILBs or, God forbid, Ramsey, to help the DL overall? Will those two play to win a little bit in ’25? Is the secondary adequate to play to win?
We’ll see about these…
I think the answer to your second question will play a large role in answering your first question.
Hoping the additions to the defensive backfield and the continued development of guys like (especially) JPJ, Trice, and Bishop will mean we have a good enough secondary that the coaches won’t feel the need to mask so many deficiencies.
Until Austin becomes more creative with his blitz schemes and disguising who is coming when, Its going to be the same old same old. This is just another obstacle for Highsmith (Or any of the backers for that matter) to excel outside of their natural athletic abilities.
Seems so to me, too. JoeB misses LeBeau, heck, I miss Keith Butler!
I remember back in the day when the pitchforks and torches were out for Butler, lol. He really was able to unlock the front seven’s true potential.
Austin was a DB coach, so I don’t think he’s fully aware of how to utilize the front seven like Butler.
That’s this untrained eye sees anyways.
I see that Zach Tom was extended in Green Bay, he enjoyed holding T.J. in ’23.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s OLB Alex Highsmith shuold be getting 10 sacks every season
At least it’s not for a lack of effort.
We as Steelers fans are really good at noticing when TJ gets held. Alex has to deal with more than his fair share of the same, it just doesn’t get as much attention.
I’d love to see Alex hit double digits. He’s a guy that is often overlooked and under-appreciated. There’s always talk of how lining up opposite TJ helps Alex, but I’d say lining up opposite Alex helps TJ, too. Maybe not as glaringly obvious, but it does. Alex is a guy who goes out there and does his job well without a lot of fanfare.