The Dallas Cowboys’ offseason has been defined more by scheme than by splashy spending. Despite owner Jerry Jones’ bold promise last month to “bust the budget” and fix a league-worst defense, the major personnel overhaul never materialized. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker is expected to install a new multiple 3-4 system that should help the existing roster, but the Cowboys still have glaring holes—especially at edge rusher and linebacker.
With free agency essentially over, the only realistic path to meaningful upgrades now runs through the trade market. And one name stands out as a potential game-changer: Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.
Locked On Cowboys analyst Marcus Mosher made the case on the latest episode of his podcast that the Cowboys should aggressively pursue Highsmith rather than settling for other rumored targets. While Dallas has been linked to Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard, Mosher believes Highsmith is the superior player and a cleaner fit for Parker’s new defense.
“Alex Highsmith is an awesome player,” Mosher said. “He’s used to playing in space, which is exactly what this new scheme will ask of him, and he’s an unbelievable run defender. He would instantly become the best pass-rusher on the Cowboys.”
Highsmith, 28, just turned in a highly productive 2025 season despite missing three games with an ankle injury. He posted 9.5 sacks in only 13 appearances and earned elite marks from Pro Football Focus: No. 12 edge defender overall and No. 4 against the run. The Steelers, however, are suddenly deep at the position. They have reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt locked in long-term and 24-year-old Nick Herbig emerging as a dynamic starter who wants more snaps and a bigger paycheck. That logjam could make Pittsburgh open to moving Highsmith, especially as he enters the final two years of his deal.
Highsmith is in the third season of a four-year, $68 million contract with zero guaranteed money remaining. His base salaries for 2026 and 2027 are $14 million and $15 million—well below his production. Mosher noted that Highsmith is “woefully underpaid” and would almost certainly seek a new contract if traded. The Cowboys could accommodate that request, turning the acquisition into a win-win: a proven starter on a short-term deal they can restructure.
On the asset side, Dallas already owns an extra third-round pick acquired in last year’s Osa Odighizuwa trade with San Francisco. That pick could serve as a baseline offer, but Pittsburgh would likely demand more—possibly a second-rounder. The Cowboys could create additional draft capital by trading down from their No. 20 overall selection next month, packaging a mid-round pick with Highsmith in a deal that also addresses Pittsburgh’s desire for future assets.
At 29 this summer and coming off a season limited by ankle and groin issues, Highsmith isn’t a long-term building block. But for a Cowboys defense that ranked dead last in 2025 and desperately needs immediate help, he represents the kind of proven, scheme-versatile edge rusher Jerry Jones once vowed to chase. If Dallas is truly committed to fixing its defense before training camp, prying Highsmith away from Pittsburgh may be the most realistic—and impactful—move still on the table.
