Rapoport: Steelers Make Surprising Move Releasing Veteran Punter Cameron Johnston

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a few position battles going on throughout training camp and the preseason, but the closest one has been at punter. Cameron Johnston and Corliss Waitman have been going to head to head in practice and during the preseason games. Waitman was signed to fill in for Johnston after he suffered a season-ending knee injury during the season opener in 2024, and he played well for Pittsburgh throughout the remainder of the year. 

Pittsburgh made its decision in the punting battle on Monday, as the team informed Johnston that he would be released. This is certainly a surprise as Johnston is widely regarded as one of the better punters in the league, and he only got to play in one regular season game for Pittsburgh after being signed during the 2024 offseason. Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news.

Waitman is a good punter, but most fans assumed that he would be used as a trade piece or eventually be released. He played well enough to win the job for good, and he is also a lefty, which certainly changes things in the punting game. There was excitement surrounding Johnston when he was initially signed in 2024, but the injury set him back and now he will be looking for a home elsewhere.

When making this decision, Pittsburgh certainly took the play of both players into consideration, but contracts also could have played a role. Johnston signed a three-year, $9 million deal with Pittsburgh during the 2024 offseason and he was set to make $3.45 million in 2025. Waitman is only due $1.1 million in 2025, so the finances definitely could have played a role when deciding to give the punting job to Waitman. Pittsburgh will take on a dead cap charge of $958k for releasing Johnston while saving roughly $2.5 million. The organization is also saving money by paying a cheaper punter.

Waitman punted in 16 games for the Steelers during the 2024 season. He landed 27 punts inside the 20, while hitting 41.5 percent of his punts inside the 20. He did this while averaging just over 46 yards per punt. He is good enough to be a starter in the league, most people just assumed the organization would keep Johnston around. 

Johnston should be picked up rather quickly. He proved he is fully healthy, and he didn't play bad at all during the preseason. His punts were shorter than Waitman's, but he was playing on a shorter field at times which called for different types of kicks.

Steelers Always Try To Remain Flexible With The Salary Cap

Releasing Johnston and saving roughly $2.5 million might not seem like a gigantic deal in the grand scheme of things, but the organization likes to have some flexibility with the salary cap heading into the season. This allows some moves to be made at the trade deadline, and it could also help Pittsburgh get out of its contract dispute with Cam Heyward before the 2025 season begins. He wants a raise due to his performance in 2024, and some of that money could come from the savings Pittsburgh will see from releasing Johnston.

Ultimately, this was probably the right move for Pittsburgh. Johnston is probably the better punter, but the difference in the two player's play and production is not enough to justify paying someone at the position $2 million more. Pittsburgh found a way to save money while also staying pretty good at punter. Johnston will end up somewhere else, as it shouldn't be difficult for him to find a job.

What do you think of the Steelers deciding to keep Waitman over Johnston? Let us know in the comments below!

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