The Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. are facing a looming deadline with no agreement in place as the team prepares to open its season against the Atlanta Falcons, according to si.com. When asked if he felt optimistic about a new deal getting finalized before kickoff, Porter gave a blunt assessment of his outlook.
Contract Standoff Casts Doubt on Joey Porter Jr.’s Status for Opener
No, not really… the clock’s ticking, so it is what it is at this point,
Porter said, according to si.com. We’re gonna be prepared regardless of the situation and we’re gonna play ball.
Porter, the No. 32 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. While the Pittsburgh Steelers hold a self-imposed deadline of Sunday to complete deals before openers — having previously signed tight end Pat Freiermuth on the Saturday before the game two years prior — negotiations have remained tense. Despite the stalled talks, Porter expressed a desire to stay with the franchise long-term, noting that his father, former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, has helped him navigate the business side of the sport.
At the end of the day, it’s business,
Porter said, according to CBS Sports. I know what that is, and I got my head straight to understand that. My dad been in this league as a coach and a player, so he has knowledge on that. It’s nothing new to me, even though this is my first go around.
Addressing Market Rumors and Rising Cornerback Pay
However, Porter firmly denied those claims when speaking with reporters.
I don’t know where that came from,
Porter said, according to si.com. Whoever made that up, it’s the internet, I really don’t pay too much hype into it.
The cornerback market has experienced significant upward movement recently. New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez reset the position market on September 7 with a four-year, $135 million extension averaging $33.75 million per year, according to si.com. Other top cornerbacks have also secured lucrative deals, including Patrick Surtain II ($96 million over four years) and Derek Stingley Jr. ($90 million over three years). Porter’s performance metrics place him alongside those elite names; according to CBS Sports, he led the NFL last season with a 49.1 passer rating allowed as the primary defender in coverage among players with a minimum of 60 pass attempts.
If an extension is finalized, Porter would join Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington, and Keeanu Benton as members of the 2023 NFL Draft class to sign long-term extensions with Pittsburgh this offseason.
Contingency Plans and Potential Fallout
Should Porter be limited or miss the opener against Atlanta due to the ongoing situation or conditioning and back issues, the Pittsburgh Steelers have prepared Asante Samuel Jr. to step into a prominent role.
Trade rumors have also surfaced surrounding the disgruntled cornerback. NFL analyst Jourdan Rodrigue suggested on NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal that the Pittsburgh Steelers should consider moving Porter to a team like the Dallas Cowboys if an extension cannot be reached, noting that secondary-needy franchises with available cap space might be willing to pay him. Porter is coming off a productive campaign in which he recorded 52 tackles, one sack, one interception, and a career-high 14 passes defensed.
If talks break down entirely and the team adheres to its strict policy against negotiating contracts during the regular season, future leverage could shift toward the franchise-tag system.
