The Steelers went offense with their first selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, 49th overall, taking receiver Chase Claypool out of Notre Dame. Fifty-three picks later, when the Steelers rolled back around in the third round at 102nd overall, they went to the other side of the ball, scooping up 6-foot-3, 248-pound edge rusher Alex Highsmith out of Charlotte.
The Steelers had the opportunity to draft Highsmith thanks to the NFL’s compensatory pick formula, which awarded the Steelers the 102nd overall pick in this year’s draft after last offseason’s list of transactions, notably losing Le’Veon Bell and Jesse James in free agency to the Jets and the Lions, respectively.