Andrew Vasquez of Steelers Wire recently outlined three bold—but potentially realistic—trades Pittsburgh could make before the start of the 2026 NFL season. Among the proposals was sending Highsmith to the 49ers.
"Highsmith's absence from mandatory minicamp coupled with Nick Herbig's massive extension have led many, including myself, to believe the Steelers could look for a trade partner sooner than later," Vasquez explained. "The 49ers could desperately use another edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa, and the Steelers may be one of the few teams with talent at the position to spare."
Unfortunately, Vasquez doesn't offer any insight into what he believes it would take for the 49ers to acquire Highsmith from the Steelers.
The trade proposal makes some sense from San Francisco's perspective. Bosa and last year's first-round draft pick, Mykel Williams, are both recovering from ACL injuries. While the 49ers also added defensive end Romello Height in the third round of this year's draft, many believe the team's defensive front could still benefit from another veteran pass rusher.
Highsmith has recorded 45 career sacks over six seasons, including 9.5 in 2025. As Vasquez pointed out, Pittsburgh's pass-rush depth could make him a logical trade candidate. However, there is no indication that the Steelers are actively shopping Highsmith.
This isn't the first time Highsmith has been linked to San Francisco. In June, Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom suggested the 49ers could pursue the edge defender after monitoring the Myles Garrett situation. The Cleveland Browns ultimately traded Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, potentially increasing the urgency for the 49ers to strengthen their own pass rush.
Highsmith has spent his entire NFL career with the Steelers, who selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. With T.J. Watt still anchoring Pittsburgh's pass rush and Nick Herbig recently signing a contract extension, some observers, including Vasquez, believe the Steelers could capitalize on their depth by trading Highsmith for draft capital.
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