Even though Kenny Pickett finished the season on a very high note, the Pittsburgh Steelers have historically been a defensive-minded team.
They boast one of the best defenses in the league still, and they know they’ll have a better chance to succeed as long as things stay that way.
With that in mind, they locked up star pass rusher Alex Highsmith with a four-year contract extension worth a whopping $68 million.
That’s why T.J. Watt took to Twitter to congratulate his teammate over his massive payday, showing his excitement for the upcoming campaign alongside him.
Congrats brother!! You earned it! Can’t wait for this season. https://t.co/R8UR0zw6a7
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) July 19, 2023
Notably, Highsmith stepped up big time when the Steelers needed someone to fill in for Watt.
He suffered a torn pec in Week 1, and it opened up the door for Highsmith to showcase his talents and establish himself as one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the AFC North.
He kept his foot on the gas and that momentum going once Watt was able to come back later in the season, helping the Steelers get an impressive 7-2 record over the final nine games to keep HC Mike Tomlin’s non-losing season streak alive against all odds.
Needless to say, the Steelers will once again rank among the league’s elite pass-rushing teams, with both of them coming back and being ready to hit the ground running from day one.
And even though some might not consider them contenders to come out of that tough division, we know better than to count Tomlin’s defense out, especially when he’s an underdog.
NEXT: Steelers Reportedly Secure Star Player With Multi-Year Deal
