Steelers Get Concerning Report About A Potential New Extension For Joey Porter Jr

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a lot of things to do throughout the 2026 offseason. At the top of that list was figuring out the quarterback situation, and that forced the franchise to wait on yet another long and drawn-out decision from Aaron Rodgers. Once he finally decided to return, it was time to start taking care of some in-house contractual business, which includes any and all extensions for the 2023 draft class. The group of players that were priorities to extend included Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington, and cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Extensions have already been signed for both Herbig and Washington, while Porter is still awaiting his new deal. The two sides did not come to an agreement during the offseason program, which likely means the negotiations will spill into training camp in Latrobe, PA. The good news is that Porter is only currently holding-in, meaning he was present and around the team throughout the offseason program. He just wasn't physically practicing. He was still working out and training on his own, but he was not risking getting hurt during practice with a payday ahead of him.

Fans have been debating how much Porter will earn on any extension that comes his way, and beat writer Gerry Dulac was asked about a potential deal during a mailbag on Wednesday morning for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He mentioned potentially having to restructure TJ Watt and/or DK Metcalf's deals after the extension is signed.

"They're going to have to restructure at least one of those two, especially if -- and when -- they sign Porter," Dulac wrote. "But I will tell you that is not happening anytime soon and could drag on. I don't think the Steelers are in any rush to commit $25 or $30 million, if that's what it takes, for Porter. Benton might be an easier deal to get done."

The insider doesn't seem to have much optimism that a deal is going to get done anytime soon, and that is a fair assumption. Usually when deals are not done by this point in the offseason, the franchise will wait until the players report to Latrobe for training camp. That is likely when a deal will get struck, fans should just hope it is near the start of training camp rather than the end.

Things between the two sides appear to be civil as of right now, and hopefully that remains to be the case. Porter has not said anything hateful or acted in a manipulative way, which is something that players around the league might do while entering a pivotal contract situation. 

Porter clearly has love for Pittsburgh, and a deal should get done eventually. There is a chance that the cornerback is waiting on an extension so that the market could grow. Both Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez are waiting on extensions as well, and they each have an argument to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league.

Steelers Will Benefit From Joey Porter Jr.'s Lack Of Recognition

Porter is missing something that Witherspoon and Gonzalez each have, and that is an individual accolade. Both Witherspoon and Gonzalez have been a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. Porter does not yet have that recognition. Porter locks down wide receivers just as much as those other players, but he does not have the same ball production. Opposing quarterbacks do not look Porter's way often, which means he has less opportunities to make a play on the ball.

The Steelers cornerback has improved in each season of his career, and he is likely going to be paid like one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Dulac finds a $25 to $30 million annual average hard to believe, but it will almost certainly fall into that range.

Are you worried about a deal not getting done with Porter? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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