The Pittsburgh Steelers are still searching for ways to improve their roster as free agency rolls along, but many of the top players at positions of need have already come off the board. General manager Omar Khan likely has more significant moves planned, but he shifted his attention Tuesday to the special teams unit.
With punter Corliss Waitman still unsigned after a mediocre 2025 campaign, Khan brought in a familiar face to compete for the job in 2026. Cameron Johnston and the Steelers have agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh after bouncing between the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants in 2025.
Johnston signed a three-year, $9 million deal with Pittsburgh back in 2024, but a knee injury wiped out his first season with the team. He returned for training camp in 2025, but ultimately lost a competition with Waitman. Could the Steelers run that same battle back this year as well? Or do they have a different plan in mind?
Signing Cameron Johnston doesn't mean the Pittsburgh Steelers are settled at the punter spot
Johnston didn't play much in 2025, but he wasn't very good when he did get opportunities. Waitman, meanwhile, was average at best by most metrics for Pittsburgh. I wouldn't be surprised to see Waitman brought back as well to compete for the job in 2026, but it's also entirely possible that the Steelers have a different plan in mind.
By all accounts, it's a good year for incoming rookies as far as punting prospects go. Georgia's Brett Thorson, Michigan State's Ryan Ecksley, Syracuse's Jack Stonehouse, and Florida's Tommy Doman are potentially draftable players, at least with late picks. Many of them (if not all) could be available as undrafted free agents.
Pittsburgh may want to have a veteran like Johnston in the building to make sure they have a suitbale option if they can't land a promising rookie. Sure, Waitman was better a year ago, but Johnston is a cheaper pickup and would be easy to part with if he loses a camp battle.
It's nothing fans should be too worried about, but having a solid punter could help an aging defense stay in better situations. Hopefully, Johnston or someone else can be that.