The Dallas Cowboys bolstered their defensive front by trading for Rashan Gary. While Gary is an anchor in run defense, he doesn't bring a lot of juice as a pass rusher. He'll get home from time to time, but he's more of a DeMarcus Lawrence than a Micah Parsons.
In other words, Dallas badly needs another pass rusher, especially with Donovan Ezeiruaku out until at least training camp after labrum surgery. Jerry Jones said he wouldn't rule out a trade for Maxx Crosby, but Cowboys fans should take that with a grain of salt.
Running low on options, Steelers expert Tommy Jaggi of Still Curtain proposed a trade between Dallas and Pittsburgh that makes sense for both sides.
The Dallas Cowboys should consider trading for Steelers pass rusher Alex Highsmith
The Steelers have a logjam at edge rusher between T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig. While Herbig would be the more ideal investment for Dallas, Pittsburgh may elect to trade Highsmith and pay Herbig, who is still an ascending player at 24 years old.
Highsmith is approaching his age-29 season, but, as Jaggi notes, he'd be a seamless fit in the Cowboys' new defense.
"Highsmith is a well-rounded rusher who can hold up against the run, rush the passer, and even drop into coverage when needed. The Cowboys are shifting to a 3-4 defense, and Highsmith would be an ideal fit as a starter for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Though Herbig would go for a second-round pick (and maybe more) via trade, Highsmith's value would come in a bit lower, due to his age. Still, the Steelers and Cowboys could strike a deal that includes Dallas' third-round pick recently acquired by the San Francisco 49ers in the Osa Odighizuwa trade. The Cowboys could also throw in a 2027 pick-swap to sweeten the deal for Pittsburgh."
The question everyone is asking is if Jerry Jones will flip the 2026 third-round pick (No. 92 overall) acquired in the Osa Odighizuwa trade for a proven pass rusher.
That remains a massive need, even with the Gary trade. Top edge prospects David Bailey, Arvell Reese, and Rueben Bain may all be gone by the time Dallas picks at No. 12 overall. With the free agency pool bereft of star power, the Cowboys may need to work the phones.
Highsmith has lived in Watt's shadow since he was drafted in 2020, but he's an excellent player.
Just last season, he ranked 16th among edge defenders with a 79.6 pass-rush grade and fifth with an 82.6 run-defense grade, per PFF. He also posted a 16.1 percent pass-rush win rate (15th) and 32 defensive stops (11th), underlining his impact as a true three-down player.
Highsmith currently makes $17 million per year, but, like Gary, he doesn't have any guaranteed money left on his contract. The Cowboys could renegotiate a new deal with a similar AAV, just as they did with Gary.
In a perfect world, the Cowboys could flip the 2026 third-rounder for a player just entering their prime, but those players are seldom made available.
Herbig fits that to a tee, but assuming he's part of the Steelers' future, Highsmith could be a worthwhile pivot for Dallas.
Jaggi has our attention.