Welcome to the terrible take, a mini podcast telling Steelers Nation what's on our mind.

I'm Josh Carney.

Moments after the news that the Pittsburgh Steelers and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith agreed on a four-year

68 million dollar extension dropped on Wednesday. The usual advanced analytics

folks and even some members of the disgruntled fan base came out in full force trying to bash the extension the Steelers handed out.

At 17 million a year, the new deal makes Highsmith among the top 10 highest paid edge

rushes in the NFL.

No doubt, it's a lot, and it continues a trend of the Steelers investing heavily defensively. But truth

be told, it's a number that Highsmith earned and was always going to get. Now some of the naysayers

will point to High Smith's quiet numbers without TJ Watt last season as a reason

why he's overpaid, making the case that Watt made Highsmith into who he is.

There might be some merit to that

just two years ago won the defensive player the year and tied an NFL record for sacks in a single season

makes players around him better.

But that doesn't mean Highsmith is just a guy on the other side. Without Watt last

season, Highsmith had four sacks in seven games.

Decent numbers overall. A closer look though, shows that he was on pace for a 10-plus sack season,

12-plus tackles for loss, 12-plus quarterback hits

in more than 50 pressures, in a 17- game season without Watt. Those are strong numbers overall. He has a

deep pass Rush Arsenal, knows how to get the ball out when he gets home, and has really come

into his own overall as a player, both as a pass-r usher and as a run defender. quite frankly, he should be able to ascend into more of a leadership rule on the defense too.

I get it. At first glance, it might seem like a bit of an overpay for a guy that put together just one great season.

...