Alex Highsmith's name is circulating in NFL trade rooms, and Charlotte fans have reason to pay close attention as the deadline approaches.
The Athletic's Jonathan Jones flagged the Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher as a player to watch ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline — a notable development for a defender carrying a $68 million contract. Highsmith, one of the most accomplished players in Charlotte 49ers history, has emerged as a legitimate trade chip for a Steelers organization that may be navigating a broader roster reset.
Pittsburgh fell to Cleveland 24-27 on Thursday, October 1st, a loss that only sharpens questions about where this Steelers team is headed — and whether a key piece like Highsmith will be part of the next chapter. The Steelers have not confirmed any intention to deal their starting edge rusher, but the fact that he's being flagged externally by a credible voice like The Athletic suggests the market conversation is real.
For Charlotte, a program still building its FBS identity, Highsmith represents the ceiling — a player who made it to a starting role on a storied franchise and earned premium NFL money. If a trade does materialize, he'd likely land with a contender in need of pass-rush help, which would keep him squarely in the national conversation.
The Rest of the 49ers in the League
Highsmith isn't the only Charlotte alum suiting up on Sundays. Nate Davis continues to hold down a guard spot for the Chicago Bears, joined on the roster by long snapper Cameron Lyons. Grant DuBose is on the Dolphins' receiver depth chart in Miami, while Demetrius Knight Jr. and Julius Welschof — the latter also a Steeler — are contributing at linebacker for the Bengals and Steelers, respectively. Larry Ogunjobi brings his veteran presence to Buffalo's defensive tackle rotation, and Markees Watts is working at linebacker for Cleveland.
It's a quietly impressive footprint for a program that only joined the FBS ranks in 2015. Eight alumni on active NFL rosters across multiple contenders is a legitimate recruiting talking point — and Highsmith's $68 million deal remains the headline number that anchors all of it.
The trade deadline will reveal whether Pittsburgh is ready to move on from one of Charlotte's finest. Either way, Highsmith's market value alone is a story worth watching.
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