The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the slowest part of the offseason where there isn't usually a ton of work that gets done. This time before training camp begins is when coaches and members of the front office typically take vacations and get out of town for a bit, but the fan base in Pittsburgh is patiently awaiting some good news. The fans are waiting on an extension for star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. as he prepares to enter the final year of his rookie deal. He has improved in each of his first three seasons, but there are still some questions arising about his value.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. walks into Phase One of offseason workouts with new teammate Jaquan Brisker.
Porter should get paid at some point during training camp, and his new extension should come in near the top of the cornerback market. He has proven he is one of the best lockdown corners in the league even without all of the individual accolades. He's built on his physicality, which used to be an issue due to the penalties he would be called for, but he has cleaned that area of his game up. He has also improved as a tackler, and now it is time for him to get paid.
One of the big knocks against Porter throughout this negotiation process has been his ball production. He only has three interceptions across three seasons, and that could hurt his value. Former NFL general manager Doug Whaley was asked about this during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, and he was asked if this could improve.
"That's tough," Whaley said. "It's tough because there's two things there. There's hands, but there's also ball skills. Can he judge the ball in the air? That goes into it as much as hands. He's just never had it. Didn't have it at Penn State, hasn't had it in the pros. So, right now, I think what you see is what you get for him."
People questioned Porter's hands coming out of college when he was drafted back in 2023, and those concerns had some validity. He has only picked off three passes across three seasons in the NFL, and it is fair to assume that an organization would want to see more ball production from a cornerback if that cornerback is going to be making high-end money.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. celebrates a big pass breakup during a road game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2025.
Whaley brings up the fact that this is a hard skill to improve three years into a career. It is not just catching a football, but it is judging the flight of the ball and the path it is taking while it is in the air. That is the first step in making a catch, and then the next would be executing by possessing the football.
Porter doesn't see many targets as it is. He is one of those cornerbacks that opposing quarterbacks typically try to ignore in most situations. He is a lockdown corner that only allows tight windows to be open. His style of play doesn't usually lead to much ball production anyway, but if he found a way to turn the ball over a little bit more maybe the franchise would feel more comfortable investing in him heavily.
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Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. during warmups before a home game in the 2025 season.
Steelers Can't Afford To Lose Joey Porter Jr.
While the lack of ball production is not ideal, there is nothing Pittsburgh can do. If a franchise drafts a lockdown cornerback, the organization has to extend him. There is no option. It should be considered a premier position in today's NFL, and it is the first time in a long time that the Steelers have had some stability at the position. Porter needs to be in Pittsburgh for the next several seasons, and the organization needs to find a way to make that happen.
What do you think about Whaley's comments on Porter? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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