Steelers Inventory Watch – P Corliss Waitman

Participant: P Corliss Waitman

Inventory Worth: Up

Reasoning: Corliss Waitman has apparently received the punting job, the Steelers saying the termination of Cameron Johnston’s contract. Though the transfer is technically not but official, the announcement clearly indicators their intention. Waitman would be the Steelers’ punter this season, shifting on from their high-priced 2024 free agent. Excessive-priced, that’s…you already know…for a punter.

Again in 2021, Steelers followers clamored for the group to maintain Corliss Waitman as their punter over draft decide Pressley Harvin III. Had they executed so, he may have had a really totally different profession. Though Waitman earned one other job the next season, he couldn’t discover a regular job. After failing to kick in 2023, he solely wound up again in Pittsburgh because of the misfortune of others.

The Steelers initially signed Corliss Waitman as a school free agent in 2020. This was the Covid yr, and so they saved an additional punter on the apply squad in case Jordan Berry couldn’t punt. Both method, it allowed the Steelers an extended take a look at him. Once they wanted a punter on the spur of the second in 2021, they acquired Waitman.

And he got here to their rescue once more in 2024 after Cameron Johnston suffered a season-ending harm two punts into his Steelers profession. Waitman stepped in and punted for the remaining 16 video games. Though he posted league-average numbers, they represented the very best in group historical past in internet yardage.

A minimum of in idea, Corliss Waitman ought to set a brand new Steelers report this yr, and maybe a top-10 league-wide quantity. A yr in the past, he stepped in mid-season and did a really commendable job. Now with a full offseason to work with the unit, he must be at his greatest in his complete profession.

Though he’s already 30 years outdated, punters are likely to have longer careers than most. Thomas Morestead, for instance, continues to be going at age 39. In different phrases, the Steelers may, in idea, have Waitman for an additional decade. If it’s the fitting transfer, then it’s the fitting transfer. It’s a little bit of a big gamble as a result of Johnston was arguably extra constant. However with a extra steady setup, maybe he can discover extra consistency as nicely.

With common season on the way in which and the roster roughly in place, it’s as soon as once more time to “take inventory”. It took some time, however we lastly noticed a few of that change the group talked about after the season ended. Definitely, the transfer to commerce for WR DK Metcalf qualifies as a change, to not point out the accompanying contract. Oh, and so they additionally traded some man named George Pickens, which individuals discovered important.

As we converse, we’re within the strategy of studying what this Steelers group goes to seem like. The mud is settled on each free company and the 2025 NFL Draft, and now we’re within the dwelling stretch. What last strikes may the group make, maybe sudden acquisitions or departures? They’ve actually made a flurry of strikes, although some query whether or not they make a lot distinction. This can be a Steelers group ravenous for postseason success, however how determined are they for a playoff win in 2025?