Corliss Waitman, the Steelers’ punter with three years of NFL experience, including two with Pittsburgh, faces an uncertain future as a restricted free agent heading into the 2025 season. Despite having set franchise records for net punting averages, his 2024 performance showed a decline compared to prior years, raising questions about his consistency and long-term fit with the team.
After the Steelers lost their offseason punter signing—Bill Burr’s Doppelganger—due to a season-ending injury, Waitman stepped in to reclaim the role. With 230 punts in his NFL career, Waitman delivered a 45.5-yard gross average and a 41.7-yard net average last season, both modest decreases from his previous year’s 46.4 and 41.9 yards, respectively. Although these net averages remain the best in Steelers history, they are just slightly above the 41.3-yard league average and fail to place him among the top 16 punters in the NFL.
Options Facing the Steelers in Free Agency
The Steelers confront a dilemma when considering retaining Waitman with a restricted free agent tender, which starts at $3.52 million—an amount appropriate for a punter ranked among the league’s best. Given Waitman’s middling performance, this financial commitment seems unjustified despite some supporters who remain loyal, partly due to disappointment over Pressley Harvin III’s struggles.
Instead of a costly tender, the Steelers would benefit more from signing Waitman to a shorter-term deal paired with adding competition at the punter position. Tommy Townsend, another free agent who once ranked among the top punters, is available and carries a career net average of 42.8 yards. Although Townsend’s recent season was uneven, his track record might push Waitman to improve or could offer a better alternative.
Alternatively, with 12 draft picks available in the upcoming draft, the Steelers could invest in a punter prospect, establishing contest and depth at the position. The arrival of a new special teams coach further complicates Waitman’s status, as his style or performance might not align with the new system.
Steelers’ Broader Free Agency Landscape and Team Priorities
This year’s Steelers free agency pool includes a long list of players, but few are indispensable besides Aaron Rodgers, who the team publicly hopes to re-sign. Other key contributors such as Kenneth Gainwell and Isaac Seumalo represent valuable but not irreplaceable assets. The quarterback situation remains the overriding concern for the franchise, making other roster decisions, including punter evaluations, secondary priorities.
With a largely revamped coaching staff in place, Pittsburgh’s direction on free agency and roster moves is unpredictable. The period between February and March will reveal whether the Steelers pursue aggressive trades, surprising cuts, or bold signings to reshape the team under a new football scheme. Waitman’s future will likely hinge on these broader strategic moves alongside his individual performance and competition.
