Steelers positional analysis: Led by Chris Boswell, specialists provide stability heading into 2025

This is the 11th and final part in a series examining the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, position by position, heading into the offseason.

Today: Specialists

If you could put a wager on which Pittsburgh Steelers position group would return intact for training camp, the safest bet would be on the specialists.

And not simply because three of the four players in that category have contracts that run through the 2026 season.

Chris Boswell was the most prolific kicker in the NFL last season and was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career and to the Pro Bowl for the second time. Long snapper Christian Kuntz did not make his first Pro Bowl appearance, but he led all AFC players at his position in votes from players, coaches and fans. And punter Corliss Waitman filled in capably after being summoned from the street when Cameron Johnston was lost to a devastating season-ending leg injury in the opening week.

They are part of a special teams group that ranked among the NFL’s best in 2024. The Steelers had a blocked kick in three consecutive games in the middle of the season, and Miles Killebrew made it to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row.

In his 10th season with the Steelers, Boswell led the NFL in scoring with 158 points. He made 93.2% of his field-goal attempts, with his 41 field goals representing the second most in any NFL season. He also was a sensational 13 of 15 from 50 yards and beyond, and he didn’t miss an extra point.

The Steelers likely will add a kicker to the offseason roster but only to reduce the wear and tear on Boswell’s right leg. Kuntz also isn’t expected to face any competition at training camp on the heels of his fourth season with the Steelers.

The true competition in the offseason and training camp will be at punter. Johnston must show he is healthy enough to return from an ACL tear he suffered in the fourth quarter of the season opener at Atlanta. He averaged a career-high 43.7 net yards per attempt in 2023 with Houston before he signed a three-year contact with the Steelers.

Waitman also is signed for 2025, although his contract doesn’t include any dead money should the Steelers cut him. Waitman finished No. 12 by averaging 41.9 net yards per attempt. He tied for 11th in punts downed inside the 20, and he tied for 16th in punts that resulted in fair catches.

He represents a reliable insurance policy if Johnston doesn’t return to form, or if the Steelers decide to go with a more cost-friendly option at punter in 2025.

The Steelers also have many of their core special teams players under contract: Killebrew, Connor Heyward, Jeremiah Moon, Payton Wilson, Beanie Bishop, Nick Herbig and Mark Robinson. Key free agents among core special teams players are James Pierre, Tyler Matakevich and Ben Skowronek.

Also returning is punt returner Calvin Austin III, who ranked fifth in the league by averaging 10.3 yards per attempt. He also returned one punt for a touchdown. Jaylen Warren also has a year remaining on his contract after averaging 25.2 yards on nine kickoff returns. The Steelers also have Cordarrelle Patterson under contract for another season, but he could be a salary cap casualty. The NFL record holder for kickoff returns for touchdowns, Patterson averaged just 21.8 yards on 11 attempts.

Under contract (specialists only): Kicker Chris Boswell ($4.72 million cap hit), punter Cameron Johnston ($3.458 million), long snapper Christian Kuntz ($1.278 million), punter Corliss Waitman ($1.1 million)

Impending free agents: None

Outside perspective: Per ftnfantasy.com, the Steelers ranked No. 2 in the league, trailing only the Detroit Lions, in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) on special teams in 2024. The Steelers ranked No. 13 in 2023.