The move comes as a bit of a surprise, given the team’s perceived strength at edge rusher. T.J. Watt, of course, is one of the best players on the planet, and Alex Highsmith is a formidable force in his own right.

Smith makes the Steelers deeper, and it also ensures last year’s Wild Card Round loss won’t happen in the same fashion. In 2023, Watt missed the contest with an injury, rendering Pittsburgh’s defense vulnerable enough for the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen to comfortably advance.

There’s no replacing Watt, but bolstering the spots behind him is a worthy insurance policy for a team that intends to play meaningful January Football.

The move also calls into question the status of Nick Herbig, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury. While soft-tissue ailments can be tricky and linger well past the initial strain, the Steelers’ acquiring Smith shouldn’t be seen as a white flag on Herbig’s fate. Instead, the two are expected to provide Pittsburgh with an extra layer of potency, creating one of the deepest groups of pass rushers in the league.

Smith has played fairly well this season, despite logging only 2.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. He’s versatile enough to take on the occasional coverage role and remains viable against both the pass and run.