Multiple Former Steelers Players Cut, Along With A Few Interesting Moves In AFC North

We are a day away from finding out the 53-man roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers to start the 2023 season. Of course, it's not a final product of the team, as things will change. That includes even by Week 1, as General Manager Omar Khan isn't afraid to pursue upgrades throughout the roster. The cuts have started, which included a few surprises on Monday morning in linebacker, Tanner Muse and safety, Kenny Robinson.

Each of them could wind up back in Pittsburgh, including Robinson, who seems destined for the practice squad if he doesn't land elsewhere. With that, it'll also be interesting to see who gets cut from around the AFC North, as well as former Steelers players. A few of those examples have already started, including the Cleveland Browns shuffling around their special teams.

The Browns released kicker Cade York on Monday. The Browns selected the LSU product in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started all 17 games for Cleveland in his rookie year, and it came with mixed results. York was 35-for-37 (94.6%) on extra-point attempts and 24-for-32 (75.0%) on field goal tries. He missed three field goals from 30-to-39 yards, a key measuring point for young kickers.

The team released York on Monday. Not only did they release their fourth-rounder from only a year ago, but they traded for their new kicker. That's right, the Browns acquired Dustin Hopkins from the Los Angeles Chargers. They only gave up a seventh-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, but it's still compensation given up. Regardless, the Browns are still going to Brown. 

Before that move, Cleveland released a few surprising names: wide receiver, Anthony Schwartz and running back, Jordan Wilkins. Wilkins' release came right after the team acquired running back, Pierre Strong Jr. from the New England Patriots. Schwartz was a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but has just 14 career catches in his first two seasons.

As for former Steelers players, let's start with Malik Reed, who has been cut by the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers traded for Reed in 2022 in an effort to bolster the team's depth at outside linebacker. He didn't exactly do well, as he had just one sack across 396 defensive snaps. In the 2023 offseason, the team let him walk and he landed in the AFC East. The Dolphins are actually loaded along the edge, which led to the release of Reed on Monday. Now, the veteran will try to find a new landing spot before the season begins in just over a week. 

Should Steelers Be Comfortable With Harvin?

The New England Patriots released punter Corliss Waitman, a name that Pittsburgh fans may not remember. He appeared in two games for the Steelers in 2021, but was released after the season. Many felt as if the team may have made a mistake, as Waitman went on to have a solid 2022 campaign with the Denver Broncos. On Monday, the Patriots opted to keep Bryce Baringer over him. With plenty of teams in need of a punter, Waitman still has time to find a new landing spot quickly.

As for a few other small names that had brief stints in Pittsburgh, Jace Sternberger, Deon Cain, Delontae Scott and Taco Charlton have been cut in the past few days. Cain had an impressive season in the USFL, which led to the Philadelphia Eagles scooping him up. In team's preseason finale, he had six catches for 62 yards. Despite the breakout performance, he is now without a team.

Should the Steelers be interested in any of these notable cuts thus far? Which position should the front office address in the next few days (if any)? What are your thoughts on the Browns trading for a kicker? Share your opinions in the comments below, yinz!