The Pittsburgh Steelers are many of the approach by way of the primary a part of the offseason resulting in the draft. Earlier than we get there, we’re going to take inventory of how the roster has advanced over the previous a number of weeks. Place by place, we’ll break down who’s coming and going and what’s subsequent, for these rookies and people already right here.
Place: Specialist
Complete Positional Determine: 4
Offseason Additions: 0
Offseason Deletions: 0
Gamers Retained:
Chris Boswell: Chris Boswell laid declare to finest kicker within the NFL in 2024, maybe a primary for the Steelers. In some other season, he would have set a brand new NFL file for probably the most 50-plus-yard area targets. However another person made much more. Whereas he doesn’t have the large leg for routine 60-plus-yarders, he’s pretty much as good as anyone within the 50s.
Cameron Johnston: The Steelers paid Cameron Johnston massive cash final yr, at the very least for a punter, to unravel their problems with instability of personnel and efficiency on the place. That lasted all of two kicks, at the very least briefly. On his second punt of the season, he tore his ACL. However he’s on his option to restoration and may reclaim his job for 2025.
Corliss Waitman: You won’t understand it by trying on the NFL’s punter stats, however Corliss Waitman set a Steelers franchise file. His web punting common final season was the most effective in group historical past, even when it was merely common throughout the league for 2024. Nonetheless, he carried out admirably and would in all probability be their finest punter since that they had a wholesome Daniel Sepulveda if not for Johnston.
Christian Kuntz: Christian Kuntz is “adequate”, but the Steelers hold taking a look at lengthy snappers. Final yr, they didn’t ever actually signal anyone, however maybe the adjustments sooner or later. They’re not precisely dedicated to him in any high-stakes approach. It wouldn’t harm to deliver somebody in and let him compete at lengthy snapper. If they need their two punters to compete for the job, it will additionally make sense to have two snappers.
Gamers Added: N/A
Gamers Deleted: N/A
Notes And Draft Outlook:
The Steelers have neither added nor subtracted anyone from the specialist group, however that may change. For one factor, they’ve but once more accomplished their due diligence protecting their Rolodex stuffed with lengthy snappers. They did that final yr when Christian Kuntz was struggling, and he wasn’t precisely wonderful final yr.
Clearly, probably the most fascinating factor occurring with specialists for the Steelers this offseason is at punter. Final yr, they signed Cameron Johnston to a big-money-for-a-punter contract, and he lasted two punts. On his second punt, he tore his ACL. Corliss Waitman crammed in the remainder of the yr, to constructive impact.
However will the Steelers maintain an “open” competitors between the 2, or is the job Johnston’s as soon as wholesome? He seems to be on the mend fairly nicely, not too long ago returning to punting. Waitman set a franchise file for web punting common final season—but that was solely common leaguewide. Johnston’s profession punting common is best.
As for Chris Boswell, what’s there to say about him? He’s the primary Steelers kicker to earn first-team All-Professional honors in franchise historical past. However he’s additionally 34 years previous, so it’s truthful to start out questioning how for much longer he’ll play.
