The Expensive Price Tag Is Exposed For Steelers Star Cornerback Joey Porter Jr

The Pittsburgh Steelers and General Manager Omar Khan have been very active throughout the 2026 offseason, especially when it comes to contractual business. It was known that this was going to be a busy offseason for the front office as the entire draft class from 2023 became eligible for extensions, while players like Cam Heyward and Chris Boswell also had to be dealt with. There are other guys on the roster going into the final season of their contracts, but the two sides appear to be far apart in negotiations. The main player that everyone is really watching is cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Porter is entering his fourth season, and he had what was probably the best season of his career in 2025. The penalties were cut down, and he seemed to be noticeably better at tackling as well. He put up a great performance against Nico Collins in the postseason, and he is primed for a big payday. His value has been debated among fans and members of the media. He doesn't have any major personal accolades, but it is only a matter of time. Some believe he should be paid near the top of the cornerback market, while others think the Steelers should hold their ground.

One of the league's top insiders, Ian Rapoport, recently spoke about the cornerback's contract situation during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

"If he is going to get paid, it's going to be top of the market," Rapoport said. "These things take time and he's a great player."

The lack of individual accolades does not seem to matter according to Rapoport, nor should it. It has been clear that Porter is one of the best lockdown cornerbacks in the NFL, even if he doesn't have a ton of ball production. Opposing teams do not want to throw the ball in his direction, which means he is doing his job at an extremely high level. 

The top of the cornerback market is about to balloon, so the Steelers would be smart to get a deal done with Porter sooner rather than later. Currently, the highest-paid cornerback in the league is Trent McDuffie of the Los Angeles Rams. He is bringing in roughly $31 million per year. With the market how it is currently, based on Rapoport's comments, maybe Porter would get $28-$30.5 million on average.

However, both Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez are also waiting for extensions. They are from the same draft class, and they each have individual accolades. They both also played in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2025 season. They will each likely get more than $31 million per season, which is only going to bump Porter's asking price up if he does not get his extension beforehand.

Porter deserves to be paid near the top of the market, and the sooner a deal gets done the better for Pittsburgh.

Steelers' Joey Porter Jr.'s Value Has Fluctuated

Reporters and local insiders were stating near the start of the 2026 offseason that Porter could command something in the $22 million to $25 million range. His constant progression and growth shows that his best football is still to come, and the cornerback market was set to grow during the offseason. Porter also might not lead the league in interceptions or get many Pro Bowl votes, but he is one of the best cornerbacks in the league when it comes to taking opposing wide receivers out of games.

Porter will get paid eventually. Cornerback is a premium position, and Pittsburgh would be irresponsible to let him go into the final year of his deal without an extension.

What do you think Porter will get on an extension? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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