By the time the New York Jets have completed the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, they will have taken one of the best edge rushers in the draft class and another first-round pick.

After fielding one of the worst edge rushing rooms last season, Gang Green is expected to get an important upgrade at just the right time.

New York doesn’t have to stop at the draft, though.

The best teams in the NFL are able to send waves of quality pass rushers. It’s the most reliable way to make life difficult for the opposing quarterback.

Luckily for the Jets, there will be more opportunities to upgrade their pass rush after the draft. Another AFC team may be willing to ship off a productive edge rusher within the next few days.

Steelers trade block

If there’s one thing the Pittsburgh Steelers have done right in the last decade of mediocrity, it’s drafting pass rushers. T.J. Watt is a future Hall-of-Fame player, Alex Highsmith has become a Pro Bowl counterpart, and even the young Nick Herbig has shown prowess.

Pittsburgh cannot pay all of their edge rushers, though. With a looming Watt extension on the table, either Highsmith or Herbig is being considered as possible trade bait, according to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson.

“Highsmith’s name, along with fellow edge Nick Herbig are definitely floating around front offices as the draft approaches, although it seems that any trade would be a one-but-not-both scenario,” Robinson said. “Highsmith is the likelier candidate to get moved. Highsmith turns 29 in August and still has two years remaining for a total scheduled base salary of $30 million ($14.5 in 2026 and $15.5 in 2027).”

A former third-round pick out of Charlotte, Highsmith has recorded 45 sacks in his first six seasons. He had a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2022, but has maintained a quality total over the last few years, including 9.5 sacks in 13 games this past season.

Now at 28 years old, the edge rusher is looking for a new deal and perhaps a chance to excel outside the shadow of Watt.

That could lead the Jets to target him in the next few weeks.

Jets draft plans

A trade for Highsmith would not deter the Jets from drafting either Texas Tech star David Bailey or Ohio State phenom Arvell Reese next Thursday. They will be targeting an edge rusher with the second overall pick in the 2026 draft.

But New York shouldn’t stop there. Outside of the No. 2 pick, the Jets will still have questions at edge rusher. They signed Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare in free agency, although neither player offers a high ceiling. Former first-round pick Will McDonald does have that high ceiling, but he still needs to prove himself as a three-down player.

Highsmith’s consistent sack production would significantly raise the defense’s ceiling. He also provides the Jets with a top run defender at the position, something McDonald specifically has struggled with during his NFL career.

So what would a deal for the Steelers star cost?

New York won’t be willing to give away any of their first or second-round assets for Highsmith. As good as the veteran is, it’s hard to project his production level once he’s no longer playing next to a superstar like Watt.

Could a fourth-round pick be enough, though? What about a pick in 2027?

Highsmith being on the block opens an intriguing possibility that the Jets should not shoot down, especially coming off a year where their team finished 31st in sacks and dead last in pressure rate.

The Steelers star may be the perfect addition to round out a complete overhaul of the Jets’ edge unit. With the addition of Highsmith alongside Reese or Bailey, New York would suddenly have one of the highest-ceiling units in football.