Alex Highsmith Madden Career 2021-2025 - Peak 89 OVR
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A two-school walk-on who became Watt's running mate
Alex Highsmith was recruited by exactly two programs, Davidson and Furman, and walked on at Charlotte instead, where he redshirted, waited, and eventually set the school's single-season sack record with 14 as a senior. The Steelers took the flier in the third round in 2020, 102nd overall, and it paid off fast.
In 2022 Highsmith broke out with 14.5 sacks and a league-leading five forced fumbles, including a three-sack opener against Cincinnati. He can drop into coverage, too: in Week 2 of 2023 he picked off Deshaun Watson's first pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Pittsburgh rewarded him with a four-year, $68 million extension, pairing him opposite T.J. Watt as a durable, disruptive edge.
The ratings climbed with the sack totals. Highsmith opened as a 67 in the 2020 edition and inched up through the low 70s, then jumped to 82 in 2023 before hitting a career-best 89 in the 2024 game on the back of his production. He held nearly all of it, sitting at 88 in 2025.
Alex Highsmith Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 89 OVR in Madden NFL 2025 (age 27)
- Appeared in 5 Madden releases (Madden NFL 2021 through Madden NFL 2025)
- Entered at 67 OVR in Madden NFL 2021, climbed 22 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 7 points into Madden NFL 2024
- Played for the Steelers across every Madden release in his career
- Listed as a linebacker in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2025 at 89 OVR
Alex Highsmith Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | COD | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | TGH | AWR | PRC | THP | TAS | TAM | TAD | PAC | TOR | CAR | BTK | TRK | BCV | SFA | SPM | JKM | CTH | SPC | CIT | SRR | MRR | DRR | RLS | RBK | PBK | IBL | TAK | POW | PUR | BSH | PMV | FMV | MCV | ZCV | PRS | KPW | KAC | KRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2021 2020 NFL season
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ROLB | 67 | 82 | 85 | 82 | 74 | 76 | 81 | 80 | 91 | 85 | 59 | 56 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 43 | - | 32 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 46 | 27 | 24 | 10 | - | 5 | 14 | 45 | 45 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 78 | - | - | - | 51 | 57 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
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2022 2021 NFL season
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ROLB | 71 | 82 | 85 | 82 | 74 | 76 | 81 | 80 | 91 | 85 | 64 | 61 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 46 | - | 32 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 51 | 27 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 45 | 45 | 79 | 83 | 80 | 79 | - | - | - | 52 | 59 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
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2023 2022 NFL season
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ROLB | 75 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 74 | 76 | 81 | 87 | 92 | 88 | 74 | 71 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 46 | - | 32 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 51 | 27 | 24 | 10 | - | 5 | 14 | 45 | 45 | 80 | 82 | 80 | 83 | - | - | - | 52 | 59 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
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2024 2023 NFL season
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LB | 82 | 82 | 84 | 82 | 74 | 76 | 81 | 91 | 92 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 46 | - | 32 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 51 | 27 | 24 | 10 | - | 5 | 14 | 45 | 45 | 80 | 84 | 80 | 85 | - | - | - | 55 | 62 | 45 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
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2025 2024 NFL season
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ROLB | 89 | 85 | 87 | 82 | 74 | 85 | 81 | 91 | 92 | 88 | 93 | 92 | 24 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 16 | 32 | 31 | 32 | 27 | 32 | 56 | 27 | 24 | 10 | - | 5 | 14 | 45 | 45 | 80 | 88 | 80 | 89 | 80 | 78 | 88 | 55 | 63 | 45 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
Era Linebackers who played alongside Alex Highsmith
Alex Highsmith Madden Ratings by Year
Alex Highsmith Madden NFL 2021 rating: 67 OVR (2020 NFL season, PIT). Alex Highsmith Madden NFL 2022 rating: 71 OVR (2021 NFL season, PIT). Alex Highsmith Madden NFL 2023 rating: 75 OVR (2022 NFL season, PIT). Alex Highsmith Madden NFL 2024 rating: 82 OVR (2023 NFL season, PIT). Alex Highsmith Madden NFL 2025 rating: 89 OVR (2024 NFL season, PIT).