Steelers' Joey Porter Jr Wants A Massive Payday: "I've Been An Elite Guy"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an interesting problem on their hands when it comes to some of their upcoming free agents. The 2023 NFL Draft saw Pittsburgh take several players at positions of need. Those players have ended up developing into key starters and are playing on the last year of their rookie deals. Now, the Steelers must find a way to extend these guys. Pittsburgh's philosophy of drafting, developing, and retaining players will be put to the test with this group. The class included the likes of Joey Porter Jr, Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington and Keeanu Benton. It is confirmed that these talks are happening actively. 

The Steelers' brass will have its hands full trying to choose which players to target. The market continues to grow for edge rushers and corners, and Herbig and Porter headline the bunch who need major extensions. The two are coming off career years, with Porter being one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. 

Negotiations are happening, but are slow, and while it may be in the Steelers' best interest to wait, getting a deal done with Porter seems like it should be priority number one. Porter has shown up to Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and the mandatory minicamp, but has been doing more work off to the side and limited team drills. 

Porter was interviewed after practice and was asked various questions regarding his contract situation and his potential hold in, where he'd show up, but not participate much with the team as he undergoes negotiations. On X, 93.7 The Fan posted a snippet of Porter's media availability where he addressed his practice and contract situation.

"I wanna be out there. Everyone knows I wanna be out there and take it day by day," Porter said. "I mean, nothing too crazy [with negotiations].  I'm happy to be out here. I'm happy I'm with the guys, learning the plays."

Porter holding in is no surprise, as many players of his caliber do this during negotiations. Being on the practice field is a positive sign, and it appears he's in good spirits, despite wanting a big payday. His talents are crucial for the Steelers' defense and are much-needed moving forward. It'll be the first time in a long time that the Steelers could say they developed and held onto a star corner. 

Porter has been an underrated defender since his breakout season in 2024. His rookie year left a lot to be desired, but he showed flashes. In 2024, he cleaned up his penalty issues before being a legitimate Top 10 corner in 2025. 

He hasn't allowed a touchdown since 2023, and let up only a 57.2 passer rating when targeted in 2025. He consistently locked down the opposing team's number one receiver. Through all of these accolades and amazing stats, he has never been named to a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team.

Porter reflected that, recently, he feels he's finally getting the respect he deserves throughout this contract extension process. The Fan's Jack Hillgrove posted the clip on X. 

"I feel like I’ve been an elite guy since I’ve been in this league, and I’m glad that I’m getting the respect I feel like I’ve been owed," Porter said. 

Porter has solidified himself as one of the best corners in the league, and this contract will reflect that. Expect a major payday for him, as Pittsburgh wants to shore up its secondary for the future. 

Steelers Can't Stall Too Much With Porter Jr.

The front office would be smart to wait with some of the other players who need extensions, but it's different with Porter. The cornerback market continues to explode and with some of the recent contracts, the Steelers locking up their corner of the future makes sense to do before the offseason. Making sure he's with the team for an extended period now, will only help the Steelers get a more team-friendly contract. 

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