The Pittsburgh Steelers entered training camp last year with two punters battling for one roster spot, with Corliss Waitman ultimately beating out Cameron Johnston for the gig. Waitman had done a good job replacing Johnston after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the 2024 season, and he showed enough to keep his job.
Now, less than a year later, it's Johnston who is back with the Steelers after signing last week, and Waitman is headed west to join an NFC contender.
Waitman and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a one-year deal Sunday, ending his run in Pittsburgh. Despite being an average punter overall, Waitman owns the Steelers' top two seasons in terms of net yards per punt, so replacing him may not be as simple as it seems.
Corliss Waitman leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers with a potential weakness at punter after heading to the 49ers in free agency
The conversation around punting in the NFL has started to shift in recent years, as teams have begun leaning into the analytics surrounding fourth-down decisions. Teams like the Lions and Eagles have been at the forefront of that movement, and some of their success over the past few seasons can be attributed to that aggressiveness.
The Steelers, meanwhile, were not quite as willing to roll the dice in those situations. Even if that changes a bit under new head coach Mike McCarthy, punting still has its place in the NFL. Being able to reliably pin opponents deep after stalled offensive drives and limit return situations can often make or break a game.
With Waitman out the door, I highly doubt general manager Omar Khan is comfortable with Johnston as his unquestioned replacement. After being released by the Steelers after training camp, Johnston spent time with both the Bills and Giants in 2025, playing in just four games and punting 11 times.
It was by far his worst season, even in a limited sample size. I expect that another veteran, or perhaps an incoming rookie (likely as an undrafted free agent), will be added before training camp kicks off later this year to compete with Johnston for a spot on the 2026 roster.