DE GRADE RECEIPT

Alex Highsmith

Pittsburgh Steelers / ROLB / Healthy

Model version: player-forecast-v24 Data updated: August 24, 2026 at 6:13 PM EDT

NFSMELL RATING90.6A

POSITION RANK#10of 86 rated DEs

WHY THIS RATING

Grade components

High-end production forecastvalidated three-season edge forecast

Current form90.0

Player-created value90.6

Next-season projection87.5

Production forecast87.5

Position-relative forecast grade90.6

Model receipt

Edge production uses pressure, non-sack backfield disruption, tackling, missed tackles, forced fumbles, and availability.

The displayed performance component is recency-weighted across qualifying 2025, 2024, 2023 seasons.

OVR uses the validated three-season edge forecast because it outperformed the prior composite in the 2024-2025 walk-forward audit.

The non-QB forecast target is next-season position-relative production, not an independent film or talent grade.

OVR preserves that forecast ordering on the common position-relative grade scale; the separately displayed projection stays regressed for uncertainty and team impact.

2025 PERFORMANCE

Position-specific metrics

Pressures Per 100 Snaps3.358

57th percentile

Snap Pct73

76th percentile

Non Sack Tfl Per 100 Snaps0.803

74th percentile

Tackles Per 100 Snaps7.299

69th percentile

Missed Tackle Pct3.846

75th percentile

Forced Fumbles Per 100 Snaps0.146

52nd percentile

91.1 season score685 qualifying plays