One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Green Bay Packers this offseason is how much they'll miss Micah Parsons while he recovers from an ACL tear he sustained in 2025. The All-Pro pass-rusher will likely start the season on the PUP list and sit out at least four games, but it could be more.
Given that the Packers need him if they want to make a deep playoff run, they're better off bringing him along slowly. The issue with that approach is that Green Bay will miss his dominant pass-rush skills.
While Lukas Van Ness is in a position to finally break out, they need more players who can bring the heat. Dani Dennis-Sutton could turn out to be a fine pass rusher, but expecting him to make an impact from Day 1 may be too much to ask. That's why bringing in external help makes plenty of sense.
The Packers are being urged to trade for Alex Highsmith
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report drew up a list of trades each NFL team should make. He suggested the Packers send a Day 2 pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in return for Alex Highsmith, arguing that he would give their pass rush a boost during Parsons' absence and after his eventual return.
"Green Bay can replenish its depleted outside linebacker group with a move for Highsmith, who may want a new contract," Moton wrote. "The Steelers edge-rusher doesn't have any guaranteed money in the final two years of his deal. With $23.4 million in cap space, the Packers can acquire Highsmith, rework his contract, and fill a glaring need on the edge."
At first sight, this move makes sense for Green Bay. After all, Highsmith would be a viable replacement for Parsons and turn the pass rush into one of the scariest in the league once the 2021 first-round pick is back.
On the other hand, this could turn out to be a pricey trade. The Steelers will probably want at least a second-rounder in return for Highsmith, and rightly so. After all, the 2020 third-round pick has racked up 45 sacks over the past six years opposite T.J. Watt.
The issue is that Pittsburgh just gave fellow pass rusher Nick Herbig a four-year deal worth $100 million even though he has yet to start an NFL game. Nobody would bat an eye if Highsmith wanted a substantial raise since he's set to make $14.5 million in 2026, and the contract he signed in 2023 averages $17 million per year, significantly less than Herbig.
An Alex Highsmith trade proposal would give the Packers a tough decision
There's no doubt that trading for Highsmith would be huge, but it would come with a caveat: The Packers would probably have to give him an extension, or he could turn out to be a one-year rental, which doesn't make sense if they had to part ways with a second-round pick.
And that's the thing. If the Steelers traded Highsmith, it might be because he's not pleased with his current salary and they weren't willing to give him a new deal. That's simply too high a price to bolster the pass rush.
Make no mistake, Green Bay could definitely afford to trade for (and extend) Highsmith, but at the expense of addressing other position groups in free agency or the draft next season.
When you add it all up, the Packers would have to pay a steep price for Highsmith, but it could be worth it if it gets them over the hump.
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