Pro Football Rumors
The Steelers have extended four players so far this offseason. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is high on the to-do list for the summer from a contract standpoint, but it appears nothing is imminent at this point.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes the Steelers have not “soured on” the idea of extending Porter, whose rookie contract runs through 2026. He adds, however, that the team may not be prepared to make a big-money investment at this time. Opinions are split with respect to where Porter’s second contract should land within the cornerback market.
Dulac recently predicted a deal would be struck allowing the second-generation Steeler to become one of the top 10 earners at the CB spot. Approaching the top of the market (currently $31MM per year) would represent a surprise, but a potential gap between Porter’s asking price and the team’s valuation could of course lead to a challenging negotiating period. As Dulac notes, a hold in during training camp – or any absence from summer work, for that matter – would obviously hinder the chances of a deal being struck.
Since being drafted 32nd overall in 2023, Porter has operated as a key figure in Pittsburgh’s secondary. His status as a second-round pick means no fifth-year option exists, though, and the Steelers have a long-running policy of not negotiating deals during the season. Porter is in line to remain a full-time perimeter starter on a defense which still has Jalen Ramsey but added Jamel Dean in free agency. The Penn State product racked up 14 pass deflections last year while thriving in coverage.
With Porter entering his age-26 campaign, a long-term commitment would come as no surprise. It remains to be seen if serious talks on an extension will take place over the coming weeks, however. The Steelers already have several notable commitments on defense for 2027, a year in which they are currently projected to be near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space.
The progress made between team and player in this case will be worth watching during the build-up to training camp. Plenty of time remains until a deal needs to be struck, but gaining traction toward an agreement will be key for all involved this summer.
