The Pittsburgh Steelers have recently been able to get some extensions taken care of regarding the 2023 draft class. The first one came when Nick Herbig signed a four-year extension worth $100 million. Then, quickly after that, tight end Darnell Washington signed a four-year extension valued at $42 million. This draft class was General Manager Omar Khan’s first one while being in charge of the Steelers organization.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan looks out to the crowd and takes it all in as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice being held in Latrobe, PA.
His decisions to extend Herbig and Washington largely signal that he and the rest of the decision-makers in the organization are relatively happy with his first draft class so far. The jury is still out on Khan, but he seems to be doing well by investing in the future talent of the roster while still trying to maximize the window for winning in the immediate timeframe.
One player still left without an extension is rising star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. In his rookie season in 2023, Porter showed glimpses, but over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he spent time developing through adversity and eventually, in 2025, started to show the NFL world his elite lockdown abilities as he started getting comfortable in the league.
Now he’s up for an extension, and it won’t come cheap. The two sides are likely to get a deal done, but so far, there’s been no luck getting on the same side of negotiations. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joined 93.7 The Fan on Thursday to share an update regarding Porter and the extension talks.
"A big part of that deal is going to be the guaranteed money," Fittipaldo said. "You saw with Nick Herbig getting north of $40 million in guarantees. I think if you want to get Joey under contract, you are going to need about the same number, or maybe even a tick above to get him under contract."
Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez are both elite cornerbacks in the league who are also up for new deals. Both are regarded as lockdown corners at this stage of their respective careers, and it’s likely the holdup with them is also creating a delay in Porter’s deal in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. celebrates a big play during a Wild Card Round matchup against the Texans on January 12, 2026.
No one wants to make the first move and set the market at a lower price point.
"I think it will happen, but I think Witherspoon and Gonzalez also being up for deals this summer has put a delay on this," Fittipaldo said.
It still sounds like the insiders around the Steelers are confident a deal will get done. There is still plenty of time in the 2026 offseason before and during training camp to finalize an extension.
Steelers Not Likely To Break Their Longstanding Tradition In 2026 For Porter
It’s no secret that Pittsburgh doesn’t negotiate contracts in-season, and that tradition isn’t expected to change in 2026 or anytime soon. That means if Porter’s deal isn’t done before the 2026 regular season begins, it could start to become more concerning.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on the sideline during a home game in the 2025 NFL season.
However, for the time being, it seems like both sides are handling the business side of the NFL appropriately as they look to secure the best deal for themselves. Steeler Nation is obviously hopeful the deal gets done at a price that is fair for both sides and quickly at that.
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