The Steelers made a few cuts on Monday, one of which included punter Pressley Harvin III. That’s why former All-Pro punter Pat McAfee believes Pittsburgh should consider signing Matt Araiza this offseason.
“Matt Araiza is a guy that would be able to potentially handle the AFC North stadiums. You have to have a very strong leg,” McAfee said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “The ‘Punt God’ has obviously been through a lot. He’s been cleared of charges, and he has not been back in the NFL. Maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers are the place to pick him up.”
The Buffalo Bills selected Araiza in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. However, he was dropped from the squad immediately after the draft as it was alleged that he had raped a female who was 17 during a party off campus in 2021.
The woman dropped the charges against the 23-year-old in December 2023 after he refuted them, and Araiza also dismissed his countersuit alleging defamation against the same woman. NFL teams haven’t shown any interest in him yet, though.
The Steelers could be the club to bring about that transformation.
After achieving NCAA records for punt average (51.19), 60-yard (18) and 50-yard (39) punts in a season, as well as 70-yard (six) punts, Araiza was a promising prospect.
If Araiza could continue where he left off, Pittsburgh would be better off with him. After watching Harvin III average just 43.7 yards per punt over the previous three years, the Steelers ultimately declared in the offseason of 2023 that they had had enough.
If Pittsburgh offers Araiza another shot in the league, they might still face criticism, but in 2024 and beyond, they could undoubtedly support one another.
Of course, the Steelers might sever their relationship with Araiza if any additional information surfaced. That’s why it makes sense for both parties to begin with a low-cost, one-year contract.
