Steelers Deliberately Reveal Clues That 2 Recently Released Players Could Still Be Traded

The Pittsburgh Steelers made some roster cuts on Monday to trim their team down to 53 players. Perhaps the most shocking move was the release of punter Cameron Johnston. Kicker Ben Sauls was also cut, though that decision raised fewer eyebrows given that the Steelers already have one of the best kickers in the NFL in Chris Boswell. Johnston had been brought in ahead of the 2024 season, signing a three-year, $9 million deal to join Pittsburgh. Head Coach Mike Tomlin even praised his talents during the offseason, highlighting the potential impact Johnston could make for the team.

Johnston’s 2024 season got off to a rough start when he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the setback, he made a strong recovery and was reportedly performing well in training camp and preseason games. However, Corliss Waitman ultimately won the punting job, leaving Johnston without a roster spot despite his previous accolades and preparation. The release was unexpected given his contract and the praise he had received, underscoring the competitiveness of the Steelers’ roster this year.

Interestingly, a deeper look at NFL.com’s waiver report shows that the only two players not listed are Sauls and Johnston. This could hint that the Steelers might still be exploring trade options for both before officially placing them on waivers. If true, it suggests Pittsburgh is not fully done with maneuvering their roster and may be looking for creative ways to recoup value from players who were once considered integral to the team’s plans.

Tom Pelissero revealed that the Steelers informed Sauls that if the team cannot complete a trade before Tuesday’s roster cutdown, they plan to release him, according to sources. Sauls was a stud kicker in college and a local player as he played at Pitt. It will be interesting to see if Omar Khan and the Steelers can make a move before the cuts have to become official.

This detail is notable because it supports the idea that the Steelers deliberately left these two players off waivers while still exploring potential trades. With the official cuts looming on Tuesday, Pittsburgh could be hoping to recoup value by trading two talented players before they are forced to release them.

Steelers May Be Able To Still Find Trade Partner For 2 Soon-To-Be-Cut Players

The NFL is such a business that small details often get lost in translation. Even if Johnston was the superior punter, releasing him saves the Steelers several million dollars. On top of that, the team seems to have more confidence in Waitman’s abilities. Heading into the 2024 season, punting was seen as a weakness for the Steelers, but it has now become a strength.

The evidence that punting is a strength is now backed by the fact that a $9 million punter is being forced off the roster. Several teams are in need of kicking and punting help, which makes it interesting to see if the Steelers can find trade partners for these two players before the official roster cuts. 

While Pittsburgh doesn’t have much leverage, they will almost certainly try to get whatever value they can. Steelers fans are hopeful that Khan can pull off some last-minute magic as roster cuts finalize.

How do you feel about the Steelers' choice to move on from Johnston as their starting punter? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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