Steelers Considered Signing Former AFC North Rival To Fix Punting Problem

Football is often a game of field position, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have often had issues with winning the field position battle. One of the main issues that came with this problem was punting. Pressley Harvin III was drafted to try and fix this problem for the Steelers. He managed to beat out Jordan Berry for the job, but he didn't have the consistency that the Steelers had hoped for when they drafted him in the first place. The Steelers even considered cutting him after preseason in 2023, but he was able to keep his job for the season. 

During the early stages of the 2023 season, the Steelers tried out many punters to work in the practice squad and fill in for Harvin, who was injured. Brad Wing won the job and punted the ball 11 times over a two-week span before being cut from the practice squad. Even though it's no fun to get cut, he at least got the chance to punt again, unlike the other punters that he beat out in tryouts. 

One of the other punters that competed for the job was Drue Chrisman. He had previously punted for the Cincinnati Bengals, including booting a 65-yard punt against the Steelers in 2022. He has not punted in the NFL since that 2022 season, and he is still listed as a free agent. He thought that he would get his chance in 2023, but it just didn't work out for him. 

Chrisman made an appearance on The Tim May Show to talk about his NFL experiences. During the show, he brought up the tryouts he had in 2023. However, in the end, the tryouts never went anywhere for him.

"I had a workout early in the year with Pittsburgh and with the Arizona [Cardinals]. Both of those teams were kind of kicking tires after the preseason ended, kind of seeing who was out there, kind of creating a shortlist. Unfortunately, I didn't get a call back to get a chance for one of those teams later on, whether it was the medical condition, or they just didn't like what they saw that day."

In just seven games with the Bengals, Chrisman put up some great numbers, averaging 47.8 yard per punt with only two touchbacks on 28 total attempts, with nearly half of those attempts pinning his opponent inside the 20-yard line. He definitely has the talent to be a punter at the NFL level, but there's a major red flag that has scared off many teams. That red flag likely scared away the Steelers as well. 

Steelers Were Scared Off By Drue Chrisman

As previously mentioned, Chrisman's medical condition has been a significant factor in teams disregarding his talents. His irregular heartbeat has presented challenges, with Chrisman disclosing that the issue exacerbated during the intense training camp of 2023, ultimately leading to his departure from the Bengals. 

Despite this setback, Chrisman remains determined to prove himself as a punter in this league. He earnestly desires for a team to recognize his potential beyond his medical condition and provide him with the opportunity to showcase his skills by offering him a contract. Chrisman's resilience and commitment to overcoming obstacles make him a worthy candidate for any team willing to invest in his talent and dedication to the game.

The Steelers cut Harvin in the 2024 offseason, but they signed Cameron Johnston to a three-year deal, so he will be expected to be the full-time punter for the foreseeable future. The Steelers could always sign Chrisman to the practice squad if Johnston is forced to miss a game for any reason, but that seems like his best chance to sign with any team. Hopefully, Chrisman will get his chance somewhere in the NFL, whether it be with the Steelers or with someone else.