Podcast appearances and mentions of alex highsmith

Footbahlin Merchhttps://footbahlin-with-ben-roethlisberger.clockwise.io/productsThe Steelers finally have real football again, and training camp already feels like a different world. After years of one steady routine, we're adjusting to Coach McCarthy's camp and asking the question every fan in Pittsburgh is thinking: when the vibe changes, does the identity change with it? We start with the big picture shifts fans notice right away, from familiar traditions to the little details that make a team feel like itself.Then we dig into the headline that sparked the loudest reactions: no tackling in training camp. We break down why that hits a nerve for a franchise built on physical play, and we weigh it against the reality of player safety and the NFL being a season-long game of attrition. We also talk through the nuance, because “no tackling” does not have to mean “no contact.” Wrapping, leverage, thud tempo, and consistent technique can still build a tough defense, but goal-line moments and true accountability are harder to recreate without going to the ground.From there, the conversation turns to the preseason and the quarterback plan. How much should Aaron Rodgers actually play if he knows the offense, and what do those snaps cost Mason Rudolph and the younger quarterbacks competing for the future? We also hit the early camp buzz: offensive line optimism once pads come on, creative pass rush looks with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith moving around, secondary updates, and the skill players getting people excited. Listen, share this with a Steelers fan who needs to hear it, and leave us a review with your take: are you buying the no tackling approach or not?

Mark Kaboly said Spencer Anderson looked good against the sled. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig moved around! Broderick Jones was taking second team reps and Dylan Cook first team. Mike McCarthy said look into personnel groupings, not who is on the field when. 

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Do Steelers fans think Joey Porter Jr. should be paid? Jeremy Fowler's survey listed Porter as an honorable mention for a top 10 cornerback. Mark Kaboly said Spencer Anderson looked good against the sled. T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig moved around! Broderick Jones was taking second team reps and Dylan Cook first team. Mike McCarthy said look into personnel groupings, not who is on the field when!

Tomorrow, Latrobe goes from a ghost town to Titletown. The Steelers are touching down, and Wednesday we finally hit the grass. But first—let's talk about the pull-up. Who's flexing the hardest on arrival day? (Tate's still putting chips on Jalen Ramsey just because). Who caught the unlucky roommate draw? We're also talking real football: the camp battles Yinz can't miss and whether Alex Highsmith is getting dealt before we even leave camp. Real talk, real questions with the Hangover podcast on the Steelers Curtain Network. Check out Meinelschmidt Distillery at meineldistillery.com and use the code USSUMMER to save 10% at checkout! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 25, 2026 - For Episode 1,969 on this Saturday afternoon, Joe Clark explains why he's against the Steelers trading Alex Highsmith. ⁠⁠⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we discuss if it's possible for Aaron Rodgers to be better in 2026 than he was in 2025 and whether we could see the Steelers use more temp. We also dive into the idea of an Alex Highsmith to Carolina trade following the injury to Nic Scourton and if Payton Wilson could play the Divine Deablo role for Patrick Graham's defense. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this and much more! Steelers hat: https://www.foco.com/collections/accessories-hats-caps?sortBy=focoinc_shopify_products_published_at_desc&refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.data--collection%5D%5B0%5D=Americana Dream Big Foundation: https://dreambigmontana.com/products/donations VOICEup Berks: voiceupberks.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to ponder possible moves for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy ahead of training camp in a couple of weeks. Could a deal still be struck to send a highly paid outside linebacker like T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith or Nick Herbig to another team? Or would that weaken the 2026 team too much? Could Patrick Queen be moved, as his 2027 return to the roster seems increasingly unlikely? And is there any other potential move that could rival what Khan did last summer in dealing Minkah Fitzpatrick to acquire Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith? Our duo tackles those questions, then gets into thornier roster questions. Is a veteran like Mekhi Becton and option in free agency amid the uncertainty at guard? Or do the Steelers have enough belief in internal options like Gennings Dunker, Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman? Where does Ray feel contract extension talks stand with Joey Porter Jr.? And will we see a lack of depth moves this summer given the presence of a large rookie class that includes a lot of Day 3 NFL draft picks like Kaden Wetjen, Eli Heidenreich, Robert Spears-Jennings and Gabriel Rubio? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ray Fittipaldo joins to discuss Joey Porter Jr's place among the CBs in the league, is TJ Watt still a game wrecker? Ray thinks he's still top 5. Crowley almost cried about the Konnor Griffin injury. Why is Joey Porter Jr getting criticized for not racking up interceptions? Can JPJ improve his hands still? AB worked tirelessly to get better at it. Where does TJ Watt rank among top pass rushers. Alex Highsmith was a bit disrespected. Can the Pirates win enough without Konnor Griffin? Crowley almost loses it from laughter. 

Can JPJ improve his hands still? AB worked tirelessly to get better at it. Where does TJ Watt rank among top pass rushers. Alex Highsmith was a bit disrespected. 

Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Tuesday. Munaf Manji and Dave Essler open their Tuesday, July 7, 2026 show by revisiting Monday's card, where a first five innings call on Atlanta cashed even as the Braves bullpen later surrendered an eleven run ninth inning, while a three star Dodgers team total over covered a wild extra innings win over the Rockies. From there the two work through a full Tuesday baseball slate, starting with Milwaukee and St Louis opening a day night doubleheader behind Jacob Misiorowski, before turning to a headline matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, where Matthew Boyd opposes Shane Baz. Both hosts lean toward Chicago after examining Boyd's strong run support and Baz's fly ball tendencies coming off a heavy pitch count start. The conversation moves to Sacramento's trip to Detroit, where J.T. Ginn faces Tarik Skubal, with the hosts split between concerns over Ginn's recent home run rate and Skubal's own workload questions after a 104 pitch outing. Atlanta's visit to Pittsburgh draws a long discussion of both bullpens, with Hurston Waldrep opposing Paul Skenes, and Munaf ultimately backing the Pirates on the money line despite a rough recent stretch for the Pittsburgh ace. Boston and the Chicago White Sox follow, with Payton Tolle against Noah Schultz, and both hosts landing on the home underdog White Sox given a hot recent stretch and command questions surrounding Tolle. A rapid tour of the rest of the card touches Arizona and San Diego, Cleveland and Minnesota, Seattle's trip to Miami, and a Houston and Washington matchup featuring Tatsuya Imai and Andrew Alvarez, along with starts from Zach Wheeler, Trevor McDonald and Michael Lorenzen. After a quick mention of a new Pregame.com discount code, the show pivots to football for the latest entry in its NFL win total series, a detailed breakdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers heading into 2026. The hosts walk through an offseason that brought a new head coach in Mike McCarthy, the return of Aaron Rodgers for a final season, and a retooled receiving corps built around DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr, Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth. Weighing an accomplished pass rush duo in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith against an aging offensive line and a defense leaning on veterans, both hosts land on the over for Pittsburgh's eight and a half win total, pointing to a favorable schedule and a division full of first year coaching staffs. The episode closes with Tuesday's best bets, an over in the Arizona and San Diego game from Dave and a Marlins money line pick from Munaf built around a dominant home pitching performance, before the two tease Wednesday's show and its look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Christopher Carter ponder which members of the team's 2025 NFL draft class are capable of making Year 2 leaps in performance. Can Derrick Harmon raise the high bar from his rookie season? And possibly pick of the mantle of leadership from fellow defensive lineman Cam Heyward? Will Kaleb Johnson be able to bounce back and find his way at running back next to Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren? And where does Jack Sawyer fit within the crowded outside linebacker group that also includes T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig? Our duo tackles those questions, then considers the future of other Day 3 picks. Can Yahya Black prove that he is more than quality depth along the defensive line? Must Will Howard prove himself a capable backup to Aaron Rodgers during the exhibition schedule? And how much pressure is on seventh-round picks Donte Kent and Carson Bruener with a large rookie class coming in? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, the Steelers Roster Evaluation series continues with the Linebackers! TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, Patrick Queen and more lead this talented group! Make sure to follow us on all platforms to keep listening to our Steelers analysis! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2X4xxKryrcuQowgv61L0X1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bleav-in-steelers/id1485137299 iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-bleav-in-steelers-52369965/ TuneIn: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Podcasts/Bleav-in-Steelers-p1264828/?topicId=545505812 Jack's X: https://x.com/imjackonthecall Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League. Today, it's the changing tune from Alex Highsmith and others about the reasons for the Steelers' highest-paid NFL defense for falling well short of its of stated goals. For most of the last few years, the fingers were pointed inside the locker room when it comes to the shortcomings, but there's been a subtle shift in the messaging now that Patrick Graham has taken over, and there's hope that he could be a major improvement for that unit. Alan breaks it down: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter and Noah Hiles ponder reasonable expectations for the Steelers' defense as it enters the 2026 season as the NFL's most expensive yet again. Are fans entitled to expect elite results from T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Jalen Ramsey, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig as they lead the unit on lucrative contracts? Or is it more complicated than that as new DC Patrick Graham takes the reins from departed coaches Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin on coach Mike McCarthy's first-year staff? Our duo tackles those question, then wonders whether QB Aaron Rodgers will continue to rely on short passes like he did in 2025. Or look to push the ball downfield more to an improved pass catching group that includes names like Germie Bernard, Michael Pittman Jr., DK Metcalf, Rico Dowdle, Jaylen Warren, Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Chicago Bears are getting major national attention heading into the 2026 NFL season, and this time it starts with the tight end room. Pro Football Network named the Bears' group of Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and rookie Sam Roush the best tight end room in the NFL — giving Ben Johnson another dangerous layer in an offense already loaded with young talent.Haize breaks down why Colston Loveland could be one of the biggest breakout stars in football, how Cole Kmet's blocking still matters in Ben Johnson's system, and why Sam Roush could help unlock more 12 and 13 personnel for Chicago.Plus, rookie wide receiver Zavion Thomas is already making noise at Bears offseason workouts. Ben Johnson called Thomas a potential “big weapon” for the Bears if he continues to earn trust in the offense. Could his 4.28 speed give Caleb Williams another explosive playmaker?The episode also dives into possible Tyrique Stevenson trade scenarios, including whether the Bears should consider using him to land edge-rushing help like Alex Highsmith or offensive tackle depth like Walker Little.And finally, could veteran defensive lineman Arik Armstead be a realistic target if he becomes available? The Bears still need pass-rush help opposite Montez Sweat, and Haize explains why Ryan Poles may not be able to ignore another defensive line opportunity.Chicago Bears Central is your home for daily Bears news, rumors, analysis, roster breakdowns, and 2026 NFL season coverage.Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/ChiBearsCentralGet at us:Email: ChicagoBearsCentral@gmail.comTwitter:@ChiBearsCentralPhone: ‪(773) 242-9336‬Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Pittsburgh Steelers' roster is pretty solid. This team may look the best they have in years. But is one player the missing piece to their Super Bowl run? One caller believes so. And his reasoning is hard to argue. Plus, who do the rookies remind us of? And is Alex Highsmith not showing up for training camp? Become a YouTube Member and get exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers intel and access to our Discord. Plus much more! https://www.youtube.com/@AllSteelersTalk/membership Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis. Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we discuss the team signing WR Levi Wentz and releasing LB Daylan Carnell and P Aidan Laros in the process. We then discuss the idea of moving Alex Highsmith for a 2027 second-round pick. What is the next big trend that will come into play in the NFL? We discuss. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this! Check out the show on our YouTube page, or find it on Megaphone or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ray Fittipaldo from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline to address the latest involving the Steelers with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson.

June 14, 2026 - For Episode 1,928 on this Sunday afternoon, Dr. Melanie Friedlander explains why she doesn't think Alex Highsmith is going anywhere, despite speculation after Nick Herbig's new deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new era in 2026, and expectations are rising fast. On this episode of State of the Steelers, Daniel from Steel Curtain Network takes a deep dive into what Steelers Nation should realistically expect from this year's rookie class. Which rookies are locks to make the roster? Who could see meaningful playing time? And which players may need more development before making an impact? We'll also discuss the noticeable changes taking place under Mike McCarthy. Reports from OTAs and offseason workouts suggest a more demanding and intense approach compared to previous seasons. What does that mean for player development, team culture, and the Steelers' chances of competing in 2026? Plus, we examine the future of Alex Highsmith. If the Steelers were to explore trade options, what kind of compensation could they realistically expect in return? Is moving Highsmith even a possibility, or is it a discussion that should be off-limits? Join Daniel and the Steel Curtain Network as we break down the biggest storylines shaping the Steelers heading into training camp. Check out Meinelschmidt Distillery at meineldistillery.com and use the code SCNJUN to save 10% at checkout! #Steelers #HereWeGo #StateOfTheSteelers #SteelCurtainNetwork #MikeMcCarthy #AlexHighsmith #SteelersNation #NFL #TrainingCamp #OTAs #NFLDraft #PittsburghSteelers #HereWeGoSteelers #NFLNews #SteelersTalk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this hour, Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson wonder if LB Alex Highsmith will demand a contract extension after some other Steelers got one already this offseason. Also, would this veteran QB make sense for the Steelers to acquire for the 2027-28 season? And Ray Fittipaldo from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline. June 10, 2026, 8:00 Hour

Nick Herbig joins Just Football to celebrate his massive $100 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nick breaks down the moment he found out the deal was done, what it means to be a Steeler for life, and the role his big brother played in shaping his career. He opens up about learning from TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, the intense Wisconsin summer workouts, his growing sack totals, and the mental stress of the contract negotiation process. Plus, Nick talks Aaron Rodgers, his Hawaii roots, the "Area 51" nickname, and plays a Steelers-only 20-0 Draft game to close things out. Follow NOT JUST FOOTBALL ▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustFootballwithCamHeyward

Alex Highsmith was back at Steelers OTAs and participated on Monday. Nick doesn't think there is any ill-will that Nick Herbig is making more money. Nick doesn't think Highsmith will hold-out or hold-in. T.J. Watt could have less than 82% of the snaps and could be the way to keep Herbig and Highsmith with good snaps. Crowley thinks Porter Jr. and Dean could be one of the best corner duos in the league, and Nick agrees. Ramsey is going to play safety and slot corner. He thinks Jaquon Brisker is going to play 80-85% of the snaps, DeShon Elliott 70-75%.

Gerry Dulac calls in to share his perspective on the supposedly confusing story regarding Alex Highsmith missing mandatory mini camp last week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discussing potential trade targets for the Cowboys, Brian and Dawson analyze Alex Highsmith's situation with the Steelers and evaluate Dan Graziano's list of available players like Maxx Crosby and Josh Sweat. They also debate the team's backfield depth, focusing on the potential of young prospects like Phil Mafah and Jaydn Ott to compete during training camp. 01:22 - Alex Highsmith Trade Rumors 03:13 - NFL Trade Deadline Candidates 09:43 - Cowboys Running Back Depth

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter and Noah Hiles digest a busy week of moves from the Steelers and their AFC North rivals. Did GM Omar Khan invest too much in depth players like Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington with extensions this week? Considering their lower depth chart status behind names like Alex Highsmith, Pat Freiermuth and T.J. Watt? Or do these moves set Khan up to potentially make some trades as he looks to bolster the roster around Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Jaylen Warren, Cam Heyward and others? Our duo tackles those questions, then ponders the implications of the Myles Garrett trade. Should Khan be more aggressive like the Rams if the goal is to compete meaningfully for a Super Bowl in 2026? Where does this deal leave the Cleveland Browns? And how will the absence of Garrett within the division impact the Steelers' playoff chances? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, Brendan Howe joins us to discuss if we are buying what the Steelers are selling in regard to Alex Highsmith, the biggest winners and losers from the coaching staff changes, how things are going at this portion of the calendar for Dylan Cook and Kaleb Johnson, the Bears move to Indiana and much more. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined the show. Ray thinks the Darnell Washington deal makes sense and doesn't hurt their cap number. Ray was surprised that Nick Herbig signed for as much as he did. Herbig is now making $6.5 million more than Highsmith per season. "I wouldn't be surprised if Highsmith held-in." The Pirates piggyback worked Thursday!

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. There are no current talks with Oneil Cruz on a long-term extension. His value is skyrocketing. Cruz's power potential is large and his plate discipline so much better. Baseball told everyone they're trying to command small market teams to spend $171 million. People are on the owners' side. Are we in for a summer of great baseball? Doug Whaley thinks the Steelers could only get a third round pick for T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith.

Are we in for a summer of great baseball? We love hearing calls of great Pirates wins. Doug Whaley thinks the Steelers could only get a third round pick for T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith. Mike Florio looked over the numbers and it wouldn't be terrible for the Steelers to trade T.J. Watt with his cap money. Joe wants the Pirates to skip a day and have Paul Skenes pitch against Ohtani. 

Ray thinks the Darnell Washington deal makes sense and doesn't hurt their cap number. Ray was surprised that Nick Herbig signed for as much as he did. Ray thinks the Joey Porter Jr. deal will get done. If the Steelers move off a pass rusher, he thinks it's Alex Highsmith. He doesn't think they have to trade either. Herbig is now making $6.5 million more than Highsmith per season.

The Pirates took 2 of 3 against the Astros as they set sail for a massive 6-game stretch against the Braves and Dodgers. How will this go? If things go well, who breaks out? If things don't, who is to blame? There's also a massive concert in town this weekend. Can the Pirates weather the storm of the Braves and Dodgers? Steelers insider Nick Farabaugh from Penn Live dot com joined the show. Nick shared that he will NOT be in attendance for Morgan Wallen this weekend even though he is a fan of his music. Nick expects Joey Porter Jr. to get a deal done with the Steelers before the season starts, on the heels of a pair of his class of 2023 teammates getting paid. Nick thinks we see Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt in black & gold this season following the Nick Herbig contract extension. Nick isn't sure if Highsmith goes the hold-in route like we've seen from players in the past. Nick projects Keeanu Benton getting 16-18 million bucks if the Steelers sign him long-term. Is Darnell Washington TE1?

Mark Kaboly joins the show for the next hour. Mark said on twitter that Alex Highsmith looked like death on Tuesday after Nick Herbig signed an extension with the Steelers. Kaboly says that the Steelers are ‘all in' this year. Mark does not trust that the Steelers would trade Alex Highsmith, even if they were offered a first rounder. He also thinks that the Steelers shouldn't be worried about getting Nick Herbig a lot of reps until his contract extension kicks in next year. More with Mark Kaboly. Mark says that it is a forgone conclusion that Joey Porter Jr. will get paid, it is just a matter of when. He thinks it'll be around $25 million a year for Porter. Nick Farabaugh thinks that Keeanu Benton will get between 16-18 million dollars a year, mark says that it seems like a lot. More with Mark. Mark has a cutout of his own face on his wall, visible to those watching on the video stream. Mike McCarthy has gone out of his way recently to praise Mason Rudolph, which Mark thinks is very interesting. Mark says that he doesn't know a single Morgan Wallen song, and that he wouldn't watch his concert if it was in his backyard.

Steelers insider Nick Farabaugh from Penn Live dot com joined the show. Nick shared that he will NOT be in attendance for Morgan Wallen this weekend even though he is a fan of his music. Nick expects Joey Porter Jr. to get a deal done with the Steelers before the season starts, on the heels of a pair of his class of 2023 teammates getting paid. Nick thinks we see Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt in black & gold this season following the Nick Herbig contract extension. Nick isn't sure if Highsmith goes the hold-in route like we've seen from players in the past. Nick projects Keeanu Benton getting 16-18 million bucks if the Steelers sign him long-term. Is Darnell Washington TE1?

(00:50) Nick Herbig signs new 4-year, $100M deal with Steelers (03:45) What does Nick Herbig’s new deal mean for T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith? (08:15) Steelers HC Mike McCarthy on LB group: “You can never have enough good football players” (28:45) PFT: Senate hearing on “Protect College Sports Act” didn’t plow much new ground (42:30) Micah Parsons to miss start of seasonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Thursday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Christopher Carter react to news that the Steelers are re-signing Darnell Washington to a long-term contract extension. Was this deal a good one for GM Omar Khan and coach Mike McCarthy? Or will that depend upon how they use Washington alongside other receiving options like DK Metcalf, Germie Bernard, Michael Pittman Jr., Pat Freiermuth and Jaylen Warren? Is it a surprise that this deal got done before Joey Porter Jr.'s or Keeanu Benton's? And how does this deal impact those negotiations? Our duo tackles those questions. Then takes stock of the team's EDGE rusher situation following Nick Herbig's extension earlier in the week. Could the move necessitate a trade of Alex Highsmith or T.J. Watt before the season? And is the term still investing too heavily in a defense that isn't producing dominant results? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike Florio said that the first two years of T.J. Watt's contract were fully guaranteed, and the signing bonus spread out. The Steelers would have a net gain of +$12 million in savings. There wouldn't be as big of a financial burden trading T.J Watt. Joe would sell high on Alex Highsmith.

If the Pirates bullpen played to even an average level, they would be 12 games over .500 this season. Poni wondered if the Pirates should kick the tires on a Bailey Falter reunion. The biggest insider in all of baseball suggested the Pirates could still deal Carmen Mlodzinski, but would that make sense since the team needs bullpen arms more than anything? What if a Mlodzinski trade netted a true late-game reliever in return? With the Pirates recent success of trading away borderline starters, should they try it again? Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. After Nick Herbig signed his extension with the Steelers, are Alex Highsmith or TJ Watt on the block? Was Highsmith actually ‘sick' yesterday when he missed practice? Ray said we won't really know how Highsmith will feel about this unless he openly breaks his silence before training camp. Ray doesn't expect the recent signings to deter the Steelers from signing Joey Porter Jr. to a new deal. Is Pat Freiermuth at risk of losing more reps? Ray isn't sure if Robert Tonyan makes the team even though he signed a deal with the Steelers today. Is Yahya Black a future nose tackle in the Steelers defense? Ray projected around $25M/year for Porter. Name Game.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. After Nick Herbig signed his extension with the Steelers, are Alex Highsmith or TJ Watt on the block? Was Highsmith actually ‘sick' yesterday when he missed practice? Ray said we won't really know how Highsmith will feel about this unless he openly breaks his silence before training camp. Ray doesn't expect the recent signings to deter the Steelers from signing Joey Porter Jr. to a new deal. Is Pat Freiermuth at risk of losing more reps? Ray isn't sure if Robert Tonyan makes the team even though he signed a deal with the Steelers today. Is Yahya Black a future nose tackle in the Steelers defense? Ray projected around $25M/year for Porter.

June 3, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 145 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Wednesday morning show, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing Pittsburgh Steelers finally signing free agent S Darnell Savage to a one-year contract on Tuesday. We also discuss the player waived to make room for Savage on the roster. The Steelers had five players in for tryouts on Tuesday, so Alex and I go over that list players, which is headlined by TE Robert Tonyan and ILB Jamin Davis. The Cleveland Browns traded away DE Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, so Alex and I both chime in on what that deal included and now means for both teams as well as the Steelers. Alex and I then talk a little bit more about the Steelers' decision to sign OLB Nick Herbig to a four-year, $100 million contract extension on Tuesday. We discuss how the onus is now on the Steelers to find a way to get Herbig on the field more in 2026 and even it is part of a three outside linebacker package that also includes T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. With the Herbig extension now completed, Alex and I address the plausibility and probability of the Steelers trading away one of Watt or Highsmith. We discuss the possible highest draft pick compensation for either player as part of any type of trade and if either of us would consider such a deal. The Steelers now seem poised to sign CB Joey Porter Jr. to a contract extension on the heels of Herbig getting done, so Alex and I speculate what a new deal might ultimately look like for him. We also discuss the possibility of Porter receiving fully guaranteed money beyond 2026 should he indeed wind up signing a contract extension this offseason. This 87-minute episode also discusses several other minor topics not noted in the recap above, and we make sure to answer a few listener emails we have received to close out this show. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The guys debate the actual value of NFL OTAs following a mandated day off and discuss the roster impact of missing players. They also explore potential trade targets like Alex Highsmith while analyzing the organization's philosophy on building through the draft versus aggressive veteran acquisitions.

11am hour of The K&C Masterpiece! Dallas Cowboys news of the day (What about Alex Highsmith? / Is there a real LT competition? / What to do with James Houston). AM ON THE FM: National Bicycle Day / how a rap lyric got a Principal fired. Gridiron Gravy: Which NFL players have the most money at stake this season?

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo report from Day 2 of the team's mandatory minicamp at its South Side facility. They react to the news that Nick Herbig has signed a lucrative contract extension. What does this mean for coach Mike McCarthy and DC Patrick Graham's defense moving forward? Could a move be made with T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith, who both have significant contracts of their own at the same position? Or could GM Omar Khan really be looking to pay big money to all three moving forward? And what implications could Herbig's deal have on negotiations with other 2023 NFL draft class members including Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington and Keeanu Benton? Our duo tackles those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League.Today, it's the new contract handed out to edge rusher Nick Herbig, what it means for fellow outside linebackers Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, and whether that means a trade is now inevitable.Alan breaks it down:#steelers #herewego #nfl CONNECT WITH STEELERS NOW: Steelers Now: https://steelersnow.com SN on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pghsteelersnow SN on FB: https://facebook.com/steelersnow SN on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/pghsteelersnow/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we wrap up the team's minicamp. What do we make of TJ Watt saying his stubbornness is the reason we haven't seen him rush much other than over the RT? Alex Highsmith was absent with an illness per the team, after several questions were raised about him not being in attendance. Could Keeanu Benton be the next guy in line for an extension? What do we make of the pressure vs sack conversation? What about impact plays as a whole? Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson discuss what the Steelers may do next now that LB Nick Herbig has gotten a four-year, $100 million contract.

June 2, 2026 - Season 16, Episode 144 of The Terrible Podcast is now in the can. In this Tuesday afternoon show, an emergency episode, Alex Kozora and I get right into discussing Pittsburgh Steelers OLB Nick Herbig coming to terms with the team on a four-year, $100 million contract extension at the start of the annual mandatory minicamp practices. Alex and I go over the early details related to Herbig's contract extension and where he now ranks league-wide as far as edge rushers in the NFL. We also discuss how early the Steelers were able to get the Herbig extension done and how refreshing that was. Alex and I then look at what this contract extension now might mean when it comes to getting him on the field more in 2026. We discuss how the team is likely to still stick with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in 2026 as well and how new DC Patrick Graham needs a plan to make sure all three outside linebackers are utilized enough. Alex and I talk about how Herbig is still an ascending player and how he now provides great insurance at the outside linebacker position moving past the 2026 season, and especially if either Watt or Highsmith don't play up above the line this year. We make sure to address how much Herbig's 2026 salary cap charge is likely to increase now and if the team will provide any fully guaranteed money in the new deal past the 2026 season. Finally, Alex and I discuss how Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. might not be too far behind Herbig when it comes to his expected offseason contract extension. steelersdepot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo report from the first day of the team's mandatory minicamp at its South Side facility. Why was rookie CB Daylen Everette a frequent target for QB Aaron Rodgers and WR DK Metcalf in drills? And how did he perform? Was it a surprise that no players held out or held in amid contract negotiations with names like Joey Porter Jr., Darnell Washington and Nick Herbig? And what did we learn about new DC Patrick Graham's plans for the season with names like Jalen Ramsey, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and others on the field for practice for the first time this offseason? Our duo tackles those questions and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today's episode, we discuss the Steelers giving EDGE rusher Nick Herbig a four-year $100M contract extension. What does this mean, if anything for the futures of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith? How will the team use Nick Herbig in 2026 that could be different from his role up to this point? Does there have to be an odd man out this season? We also discuss the team signing Darnell Savage, what went down at mandatory minicamp and much more. Let's go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NFL Legends James "Deebo" Harrison and Joe Haden react to Aaron Rodgers participating in OTAs just a day after re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Deshaun Watson reportedly taking the lead in the Cleveland Browns QB competition over Shedeur Sanders, and much more! Timeline:00:00 - Intro11:53 - Rodgers at Steelers OTAs24:02 - Broderick Jones at Steelers OTAs32:13 - Alex Highsmith on Steelers defense38:05 - Browns QB timeline (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Club #NightcapSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.