Special teams are often overlooked in today’s NFL, but it was one of the Steelers’ biggest weaknesses in 2023.
Pittsburgh watched punter Pressley Harvin III average just 43.7 yards per punt over the past three years and the team finally decided it’s seen enough, cutting the former seventh-round pick as part of its first round of releases.
This vacancy opened the door for Matt Araiza to return to the NFL, though not with the Steelers.
Araiza, a sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2022, set NCAA records in punt average (51.19), 60-yard punts (18) and 50-yard punts (39) in a season and 70-yard punts (six).
However, a few months after the draft, he was alleged to have raped a then-17-year-old girl at an off-campus party in 2021. The charges were dropped by the woman in December 2023.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler announced on Thursday that Kansas City was signing Araiza to a one-year deal.
USA Today’s Steelers insider Josh Carney believes that because of the Araiza signing, there’s now “a real possibility” Pittsburgh can land All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend in free agency.
It would be quite the upgrade for the Steelers as Townsend has been one of the better punters in the league, helping the Chiefs win two Super Bowls (LVII and LVIII).
Kansas City is tight on money and signing Araiza to a cheap contract hints it will let Townsend walk in free agency.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
If you are in the United States and you or a loved one have contemplated suicide, call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to connect with a trained counselor.
