Pro Football Rumors
The Steelers have been busy on the extension front this offseason. There is work still to be done in that regard, though, and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. appears to be next on the to-do list.
Nothing is believed to be imminent between team and player, although there is plenty of time for an agreement to be reached prior to Week 1. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette predicts Porter will wind up signing an extension ahead of the 2026 season, the final year of his rookie contract. The matter of value on a long-term deal will of course be a sticking point during negotiations.
Dulac expects Porter to land a considerable raise on his second Steelers pact. Nevertheless, he believes the 25-year-old will check in closer to the bottom of the top 10 of the cornerback market than the top five. Breaking into the upper echelon at that position would require surpassing teammate Jalen Ramsey at an average annual value above $24.1MM. Ramsey – who is likely to again see time in the slot and at safety in 2026 – is 31 but is more accomplished than many of his peers. The leader of the pack in terms of cornerback AAV is Trent McDuffie thanks to the $31MM-per-year deal he signed upon being traded to the Rams.
Spots six through 10 in the current CB market range from $24MM annually (Patrick Surtain) to $19.5MM (Marlon Humphrey). Porter could aim to land within that range on a new deal, one which would confirm his status as a foundational member of Pittsburgh’s defense for years to come. Taken in the second round (since the 2023 draft only contained 31 first-round picks), Porter has racked up 31 pass breakups across his first three years in the league. Issues with penalties were improved upon in 2025, a year in which the Penn State product allowed a completion percentage of just 48.5% in coverage.
Pittsburgh has Ramsey as a holdover from last season. The team also added Jamel Dean in free agency, and the former Buccaneer will be tasked with operating as a starter on the perimeter. The fate of the Steelers’ secondary will nevertheless depend in large part on Porter managing to remain productive in 2026. A strong season would obviously set up a potential lucrative trip to the open market, although an extension being in place sometime this summer would come as no surprise.
Devon Witherspoon represents a strong candidate to rest the cornerback market as McDuffie did earlier this offseason. If/when he and the Seahawks agree to terms, Porter’s situation with Pittsburgh could become slightly clearer from a financial standpoint.
