Report: Steelers' Joey Porter Jr Is "Not Happy" Currently With Front Office Brass

The Pittsburgh Steelers are two weeks away from their regular season opener, and there has still not been enough progress in their negotiations with star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Time is ticking, especially since Pittsburgh has historically refused to ever negotiate once it has played its first game of any given season. Even with all the great depth at the position, nobody can shut down a team's top receiver quite like the former 32nd overall pick, and he deserves to be paid near the top of his position, even if he doesn't reset the market. 

Apparently, the lack of an offer is not the only thing that has upset the star corner. While making an appearance on SportsCenter, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler explained what really made Porter upset.

"You've got Joey Porter Jr.; this one has been a classic stalemate," Fowler said. "I'm told the player has not been happy with the way things have gone because they've paid other players. They have not made him a formal offer to measure with his skillset. He feels like he's been a really good corner for them."

Not even getting a legitimate offer is infuriating on its own accord, especially with how great he has played. What makes it even more upsetting is that the Steelers have given out extensions like candy throughout the 2026 offseason. Three players listed as backups on the depth chart have gotten big-time deals to keep them in Pittsburgh for the long-term future, but the best of the eligible bunch is still waiting to even get any message from the team's brass.

Edge rusher Nick Herbig also had a subtle hold-in, which didn't even last a day before the Steelers gave him a $100 million deal to add on to his rookie contract. He is one of three outside linebackers that currently have a massive contract, which is making it much harder for Pittsburgh to be able to pay Porter. One of them is expected to be dealt in 2027, but until then, Pittsburgh is low on money. 

It doesn't matter that the new offensive system likely means that Darnell Washington will likely see less time on the field; he is still a living cheat code that the Steelers prioritized. He ended up resetting the market for blocking tight ends, although that's not a very high bar. He is still a low-cost player with very few guarantees, so that one likely doesn't sting as much for Porter. 

What may have really upset the star cornerback is the most recent extension the Steelers gave out. Keeanu Benton lost the starting job in 2026, and he is expected to be a rotational piece. Despite that, he was given a contract worth $18 million per year. Someone who lost playing time just got a major payday, but Porter can't even get a single offer from his own general manager to keep him around long-term.

Steelers' Priorities May Have Been Slightly Off

It's true that Herbig is an absolute menace as a pass rusher, but recent history shows that the Steelers can develop star outside linebackers out of an assembly line, so prioritizing him may not have been the smartest move. As mentioned before, Benton went from being a starting nose tackle to backup defensive lineman, so it felt like the Steelers could have waited on him until 2027.

One position the Steelers have been unable to develop properly in over a decade is cornerback, with Porter being the anomaly. Even with all of the depth signings they made, it's still unclear if Pittsburgh can figure out how to help the young defensive backs reach their full potential. When something is as uncertain as that, it's best to pay the one man that can bring a level of certainty to the position group.

What do you think about Porter being upset that the Steelers gave out extensions to other players? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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