While it may seem like relatively minor news, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced that veteran kicker Chris Boswell will not be kicking during the first preseason game. In his place will be rookie kicker Ben Sauls.
This could be a massive opportunity for both the team and Sauls.
While Boswell is entrenched as a starter (even with his minor contract dispute ongoing), the league is notoriously short on quality kickers. It seems like at the end of every preseason, a few guys get traded back and forth while others are quickly scooped off of waivers.
While the NFL already had a shot at Sauls, and it seems pretty telling of his initial interest that he settled in with Pittsburgh, a strong showing could make him a desirable option for another team. That all starts with this game against the Jaguars.
Ben Sauls could become a trade chip for the Pittsburgh Steelers
This wouldn’t be the first time we saw an undrafted rookie kicker make some noise. Just a few years ago, the Ravens signed Kaare Vedvik. He was impressive in the preseason before getting traded to the Vikings. He netted a fifth-round pick.
While that trade proved to be a bad one for the Vikings, as Vedvik fell flat on his face in Minnesota, it doesn’t mean that Sauls won’t catch the eye of another team. A few strong kicks could easily make him desirable.
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What he needs to show is a strong leg on kickoffs and the same consistency that he showed on field goals in college. If he can do that, he could suddenly be on the top of some teams' lists for kicker help. He also kicks low, making him susceptible to blocks, so corrections will be needed there.
While a repeat of the Vedvik trade seems unlikely, Sauls for a seventh-round pick isn’t out of the question if he can string together a few good games. Boswell may opt to sit out until his contract is resolved, so that means there will be ample opportunity for the rookie to make some noise.
While the first preseason game will feature a lot of critical storylines for the Steelers, Sauls getting the shot to show the NFL what he’s got is important. A strong showing here and through the preseason could give him a massive edge on cut-down day. While the Steelers may not need him, Sauls could quickly become a massive trade chip to utilize at the end of summer.