Colts writer floats Steelers edge Alex Highsmith trade after Pittman deal

The Indianapolis Colts have already proven they are willing to do business with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, and one Colts writer wants that relationship to turn into something bigger. In a July 5 column, Horseshoe Heroes contributor Ernesto Cova urged Indianapolis to make a strong push to acquire Steelers edge defender Alex Highsmith, framing him as an underrated “headhunter” who fits what the Colts need as the 2026 season approaches.

Cova’s argument begins with Highsmith’s production and profile as a long-term interior-to-edge disruptor. In the piece, he points to Highsmith’s career output with Pittsburgh, including 91 quarterback hits, 64 tackles for loss, and 45 sacks over six seasons, all with the Steelers. The thrust is that Indianapolis would not just be buying a rental, but adding a proven NFL pass rusher who can anchor a pressure package.

The proposal also rests on a timing issue unique to Pittsburgh’s recent contract decisions. Cova notes that the Steelers extended pass rusher Nick Herbig and that Pittsburgh is already paying T.J. Watt at a premium level. He argues that once the cost of keeping everyone on the roster comes due, the Steelers could face difficult choices about which veteran edge they can afford to retain, leaving the door open for a trade.

The column acknowledges the financial reality by emphasizing that Highsmith is not necessarily “available” today, even if his name becomes prominent in trade discussions. Cova suggests that the Steelers may not be forced to act in the immediate term, but he presents Highsmith as a near-term possibility specifically because of how Pittsburgh’s cap commitments are set to affect future planning. The overall theme is that Indianapolis should watch Pittsburgh’s hand at the bargaining table.

That attention to Pittsburgh is not coming out of nowhere. The Yahoo Sports report that surfaced the idea also highlighted how Indianapolis and Pittsburgh have already interacted recently through a trade framework involving Michael Pittman. According to the Yahoo Sports description, a deal executed by Steelers general manager Omar Khan brought Pittman to Pittsburgh after sending Indianapolis a 2026 sixth-round pick, with Indianapolis receiving Pittman plus a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange.

From a roster-building standpoint, Highsmith would represent a different kind of acquisition than Pittman. Pittman is a wide receiver addition that targets an offensive need, while Highsmith is positioned as a defensive answer to pressure and disruption. In the writer’s view, that contrast is exactly why another Steelers-Colts transaction makes sense, with one move improving the passing game and another potentially improving pass rush consistency.

Still, it is important to separate advocacy from certainty. This is a call from a writer, not a report of a negotiated offer. Even within the Horseshoe Heroes argument, the trade concept is framed as something that could become plausible if Pittsburgh’s contract math and roster priorities push it toward tough decisions. For Indianapolis, the most realistic takeaway is not that a deal is imminent, but that the Colts’ offseason strategy could continue to include Pittsburgh as a trade partner if value aligns.

The next thing to watch is whether Highsmith’s name continues to surface in connection with other teams across the league as contract timelines tighten, and whether the Steelers ultimately decide to keep their edge rotation intact or restructure it. For the Colts, the practical question is whether they prioritize another acquisition that changes how games are defended in the AFC, or whether they look elsewhere after already drawing from Pittsburgh’s market once this cycle.