Steelers' Joey Porter Jr Hit With New Reality That Pittsburgh May Let Him Walk In 2027

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a difficult time selecting cornerbacks over the years. The lack of success behind that quickly changed after Joey Porter Jr. was taken in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was the 32nd overall pick, which was in the hands of Omar Khan because of a trade with the Chicago Bears that included Chase Claypool. In fact, the majority of the rookie class from that year has turned out to be future pieces in the Steel City. Despite this, the cornerback is waiting for an extension that could pay him close to $30 million per season.

If the Steelers decide to hold off on negotiations for now, Porter could absolutely hold-in at training camp. This would involve him doing light individual work on the side, but not participating in full team practices and drills. This is a common strategy used by players to let their respective teams know that they care about preparation. However, they don't want to get injured in the process without long-term security.

Pittsburgh has been known of late to seriously invest on the defensive side of the ball. Extending Porter with a massive salary would only enhance the idea that the organization wants to win with defense. In a recent fan chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted by Gerry Dulac, the reporter was asked if the franchise was going to start paying players on offense. The beat writer threw in an interesting note about Porter when answering.

"They have slowly been doing that, in case you haven't noticed. Metcalf, Pittman, Dowdle, Rodgers, Washington. But it's a steep mountain to climb to catch that defensive number. And wait till they sign Porter... if they sign him," Dulac wrote.

The final part from Dulac speaks volumes. It hints at the fact that the Steelers are pondering the idea of actually not committing to Porter long-term. Another fan chimed in and didn't want to let that comment go unnoticed.

"You're paying attention I see. Very good," Dulac responded.

This quickly became a hot topic while the insider was engaging with the fan base. Someone wanted Dulac to clarify if Pittsburgh was actually starting to dislike the idea of coughing up a ton of cash to the defender.

"They haven't soured on the idea, but I don't think they're prepared to pay him the amount some people think he is worth," Dulac noted.

This is a very intriguing point because Porter may view himself as one of the best corners in the league. If he does, his camp will be wanting north of $30 million per year. For the Steelers, that number may simply be too high.

Dulac is close to many in the organization, so it's possible that the team has leaked a little bit of information so Porter and his agency can get the hint that the negotiating table will not be what they expect it to be. Oftentimes, the Steelers get deals done at the final hour before the regular season, and this situation just got all the more interesting.

Pittsburgh would be making a mistake to not extend a cornerback that it drafted back in 2023. The position has been a complex one for the Steelers, so the right number will have to be agreed upon. Additionally, the defender is a legacy player because of his father's ties to the franchise. Now, it appears like the front office is preparing to play hardball. 

Steelers Will Find The Right Number For Porter

It seems like an impossible scenario for Pittsburgh to allow Porter to walk in 2027 free agency. However, Dulac believes that is a possibility. Another option would be hoping that the corner plays in 2026, but then signs a franchise tag in 2027. That wouldn't make too much sense because of how high that number will be, but things are certainly getting interesting as this begins to unfold.

#SteelerNation