The Pittsburgh Steelers are full of news today. After reportedly signing LB Tanner Muse, the team is adding a punter to their roster. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Steelers have claimed punter Braden Mann off waivers from the New York Jets.
Mann’s base salary in 2023 is slated to be $1.010 million. He was released by the Jets after they failed to find a trade partner.
A sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2020, Mann served as the Jets’ punter the last three seasons. As a rookie, he led the NFL in punts (82) and total yards (3,538) while averaging 43.9 yards per punt. Last season, he punted 83 times and averaged 46.9 yards per punt. That average ranked 16th while his net yardage was 40.5 per kick, a bottom-half number across the league, though one that reflects coverage units and not just punters. Harvin’s net average was actually better at just over 41 yards per punt.
At Texas A&M, Mann was regarded as a top punter. In 2018, he averaged a blistering 51 yards per punt while in 2019, he still averaged 47.1. Throughout his career, college and NFL, Mann also served as a kickoff specialist. In 2021, he had over a 90% touchback rate though in 2022, he lost the bulk of those duties to Greg Zuerlein. Overall, Mann is regarded as having a big leg.
Mann will join Pressley Harvin III as the two punters on Pittsburgh’s roster. Perhaps there will be a roster battle this summer. Harvin has not been the punter the Steelers hoped for when they drafted him in the 7th round in 2021. He improved as a sophomore, his average raising from 42.6 to 44.5 but it was still a number well below league average.
Harvin initially earned his spot on the 53-man roster as a rookie by beating out incumbent and veteran Jordan Berry. Now, he’ll have to hold off someone looking to take his job come August.
