Mark Madden: With Alex Highsmith, Steelers shouldn't pay Batman prices for a Robin

Pro Football Focus projects Alex Highsmith will get a four-year contract extension worth $65 million. That’s an average annual value of $16.25, which would rank him 13th among the NFL’s edge rushers.

That’s insane.

But Highsmith will get it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are bullied by their players easily and often. If you want a new contract, it’s yours. If you want out, you get to leave. It’s a get-along gang with no unpleasant moments beyond not winning a playoff game for six seasons. (Everyone shares that.)

Coach Mike Tomlin wants volunteers, not hostages. But what if a hostage gives the Steelers a better chance of winning?

Highsmith is heading into the last year of his deal. So, come training camp, he figures to indulge the Steelers’ tradition of the “hold in.” You show up for work, but don’t work. Then, before too long, you get what you want.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward, Diontae Johnson and T.J. Watt each “held in” to some degree. Each got paid.

Le’Veon Bell didn’t get paid. Which reflects on the disposability of running backs and what a pot-smoking pain in the backside Bell was.

Highsmith is a sidekick. He’s Robin, not Batman.

In 10 games last season with Watt playing, Highsmith had 11 sacks and a pass-rushing grade of 76.0. In the seven games Watt missed, Highsmith had just 3 1/2 sacks and a pass-rushing grade of 56.8. (I’ve got no idea what constitutes a “pass-rushing grade.” I do know that 56.8 is less than 76.0.)

Highsmith isn’t as good as Watt. Duh. Highsmith is above average.

But an average annual value of $16.25 million is very close to elite-level money. Highsmith isn’t worth it. Watt’s health and accompanying positive effect on Highsmith’s performance can’t be guaranteed.

So, let Highsmith walk at the end of the coming season.

But that won’t happen. Highsmith will get paid. The Steelers will buckle.

A bigger issue is how much the Steelers spend on defense.

The Steelers paid out $125.6 million on defense last year, most in the NFL and most in league history.

But their defense wasn’t elite. It finished 14th best in yards allowed and 10th in scoring defense. (How can that be blamed on offensive coordinator Matt Canada? Oh, wait, I know…THE DEFENSE WAS ON THE FIELD TOO MUCH! FIRE CANADA!)

Defense doesn’t win in today’s NFL. (I keep having to write that an awful lot.)

But the Steelers’ outdated philosophy keeps replenishing a model that won’t work, and spending like crazy on it.

Take that potential expenditure on Highsmith and buy more offense. Offense wins. Score more and faster.

But Highsmith will get what he wants. The Steelers will stay outdated.

As Fox’s Colin Cowherd says, certain NFL teams and coaches don’t understand the offensive side of the ball. The Steelers and Tomlin fit that description.

When a business is dying, you often hear this said by those who are running it: “This is how we’ve always done things.”

The Steelers aren’t dying. They just haven’t won a playoff game in six years and won’t win one this coming season.