We are on part 50 of our 90-part series — assuming the roster does not change before we are complete — which will break down each player of the Steelers current 90-man roster in alphabetical order. This series will encompass many aspects of each players game and their current role with the team. At the end, I’ll give some projected stats as well as their chances to make the 53-man roster.

Let’s take a look at another XFLer and second stint Steeler:

Christian Kuntz

Position: OLB/LS
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 228 lbs
College: Duquesne
Draft: UDFA in 2017 (Patriots)

2019 stats (XFL)

5 Games Played
0 Tackles

Contract remaining

Expires in 2021
$610,000 salary cap number (0.30% of total cap)
$0 Dead money
$610,000 Savings if cut

Likelihood of making the roster

50/50. As a long snapper, Christian Kuntz simply just has to prove two things to make his roster. First, snap the ball better than Kameron Canaday. Second cover punts better than Canaday without getting holding penalties. Making the team is definitely possible for Kuntz as he was one of the last cuts of the 2019 Steelers and nearly beat out Canaday in the process. Obviously the Steelers brought him back for a reason and he’ll get another shot to make this team.

2020 projection

As far as predictions go, I'm going to pick incumbents to make this team due to the coronavirus pandemic greatly cutting down on field time. I think the safest way for teams to be built is to go with the incumbents, as it will be greatly more challenging for fringe players to prove themselves.

Long snapping however is cut and dry enough where the team can simply just pick whoever snaps and covers best. That being said, Canaday is pretty good at his job and should again have the snapping duties in 2020 especially after getting a new contract this offseason.

Projected stats:

N/A —Cut

Summary

Christian Kuntz impressed so much during the 2019 training camp the Dallas Renegades cut their own long snapper to give him a spot on their roster. I feel like that will happen again in 2020 however whoever loses the Steelers long snapping job will end up on another NFL roster.

Cutting Canaday saves an extra $300,000 to the cap in 2020 and another Million dollars in 2021. So if the Kuntz and Canaday competition ends in a draw the Steelers may be more likely to bring Kuntz on and save some money heading into a cap strapped 2021.

Previously Highlighted

Ola Adeniyi
Marcus Allen
Tyson Alualu
Trajan Bandy
Zach Banner
J.T. Barrett
John Battle
Jordan Berry
Saeed Blacknall
Breon Borders
Chris Boswell
Antoine Brooks Jr.
Isaiah Buggs
Devin Bush
Deon Cain
Kam Canaday
Chase Claypool
Josiah Coatney
James Conner
Anthony Coyle
Jordan Dangerfield
Amara Darboh
Carlos Davis
David DeCastro
Christian DiLauro
Kevin Dotson
Bud Dupree
Eric Ebron
Terrell Edmunds
Trey Edmunds
Matt Feiler
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Zach Gentry
Ulysees Gilbert III
Derwin Gray
Joe Haden
J.C. Hassenauer
Quadree Henderson
Dewayne Hendrix
Cam Heyward
Alex Highsmith
Mike Hilton
Devlin Hodges
John Houston
Anthony Johnson
Diontae Johnson
Jarron Jones
John Keenoy
Tyree Kinnel