The Pittsburgh Steelers made a somewhat surprising move on Tuesday, claiming punter Aidan Laros off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and releasing wide receiver Brandon Johnson to make room on the roster.
At first glance, the move raises an obvious question: why add another punter when Cameron Johnston is already in place?
The answer likely has less to do with replacing Johnston and more to do with creating depth, evaluating talent, and potentially developing a long-term option at a specialized position.
Cameron Johnston’s job is safe: for now
Let’s start with the obvious. Johnston is expected to remain Pittsburgh’s punter heading into the 2026 season. But that doesn’t mean the Steelers shouldn’t look for extra security at the position.
After returning from the significant knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign, Johnston battled with Corliss Waitman for the starting role last season, but would be released as part of the cutdown to a 53-player roster.
With a new coaching staff in place, the front office opted to move on from Waitman and bring Johnston, who spent last season with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
The Steelers didn’t claim Laros because they suddenly became unhappy with Johnston. Johnston remains one of the more experienced specialists on the roster, but his bad luck with injuries (including one from a roughing the punter penalty last season) should have Pittsburgh wary of having a backup plan in place.
If anything, the move appears to be about adding another leg to the room while evaluating a young prospect with intriguing upside.
Aidan Laros brings a unique background
Laros arrives in Pittsburgh after signing with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NFL Draft.
The South Africa native spent time at Charlotte and Tennessee-Martin before finishing his college career at Kentucky. During his final season with the Wildcats, he averaged 44.9 yards per punt while handling both punting and kickoff duties. He finished his college career averaging 45.8 yards per punt across 134 attempts.
His strong leg and versatility likely caught the attention of the Steelers’ scouting department.
For a team that values special teams as much as Pittsburgh does, finding developmental talent at specialist positions is always worth exploring, as they look to flip the field and find hidden yards that were missing in the field position battles of last season.
Training camp requires extra specialists
One practical explanation is simply the demands of training camp.
During camp, teams routinely bring in additional kickers, punters, and long snappers to handle increased workloads. Special teams periods can consume a significant number of reps, and having multiple specialists prevents unnecessary wear and tear.
Adding Laros gives special teams coordinator Danny Crossman another option throughout the summer while allowing the coaching staff to evaluate his potential.
Even if Johnston is penciled in as the starter, there is value in having another capable punter available for practices and preseason games.
Looking ahead to the future
Specialist positions are often overlooked until a team suddenly needs a replacement.
Johnston turned 34 in February. While punters can enjoy lengthy careers, the Steelers may simply be doing their due diligence by identifying younger options before they become necessary.
If Laros performs well in camp, Pittsburgh could potentially keep him on the practice squad or continue monitoring his development.
General manager Omar Khan has consistently shown a willingness to add young talent whenever opportunities arise, regardless of position.
The Steelers are betting on potential
At the end of the day, this move feels less about the present and more about the future.
The Steelers used a waiver claim to acquire a young specialist with a strong collegiate resume and developmental upside. The cost was minimal, and the potential reward could be a future contributor at a position that often receives little attention until it becomes a problem.
Johnston should remain the favorite to handle punting duties this fall, but by claiming Laros, Pittsburgh is doing what successful organizations do: continuously searching for talent, even at positions most fans rarely think about.