The Pittsburgh Steelers have been at an impasse with star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. throughout the entirety of the 2026 preseason. The two sides have been looking to get a deal done to keep Porter Jr. in the Steel City for the long-term. The clock is ticking, as the Steelers' regular-season opener is this Sunday, September 13th against the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers are known to not negotiate contracts during the regular season, but it is unlikely that General Manager Omar Khan will trade him away, even if a deal is not done in time.
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Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan stands on the field surface and looks off into the distance as the team participates in a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh selected Porter Jr. with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was a standout corner for the Penn State Nittany Lions during his time in college, and the Steelers jumped at the opportunity of acquiring a true, shutdown No. 1 cornerback -- something that the team has not had in many seasons.
Porter Jr. has performed very well since arriving in the Steel City. The 2025 NFL season was his best thus far, as he established himself as one of the few premier players at his position. The young star is only getting better, and the future looks very bright for his career. The problem is that Pittsburgh has not come to an agreement on a new contract. There has been no real evidence regarding if the length of the contract is the problem, or if it has to do with the financial side of a potential deal.
One thing that Steelers fans have been worried about during Porter Jr.'s hold-in is the idea of the organization shipping him off in a trade. There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the direction that Pittsburgh will go in if an agreement is not reached before the start of the NFL regular season. In a recent breakdown on NFL on NBC, professional analyst Mike Florio dropped some information that can put Steelers fans' worries about Porter Jr. playing for another team in 2026 at rest.
"I am told there have not been any phone calls to the Steelers about possibly trading for Porter Jr., paying him $30+ million per year, and giving up whatever the Steelers would be looking for by way of trade," Florio stated. "I am told the phones are not ringing."
This statement has to bring relief to Steelers fans, while also instilling confidence that Porter Jr. will be on the field this season. While there is not a lot of time left to get a deal done, the NFL is a fast-moving business, and transactions can happen at any moment.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. on the sideline during a home game in the 2025 season.
The reality of the situation is that Pittsburgh needs Porter Jr. to lead its secondary this season. He is far and away the Steelers' best defensive back and has a chance to cement himself as one of, if not the best, cornerback in the entire NFL during 2026. The team has an improved secondary, bringing in the likes of safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Jamel Dean, but everything runs through Porter Jr. Week in and week out, he matches up with opposing teams' No. 1 wide receivers and performs well against them -- an extremely tough task for any cornerback in the NFL.
Porter Jr.'s Ties To Pittsburgh Could Help A Deal Get Done
It is well known that Porter Jr. is the son of the Steelers' legendary linebacker, Joey Porter Sr. Porter Sr. played eight full seasons for Pittsburgh and quickly became a fan favorite during his time with the organization. Even today, he is a devoted Steelers fan and is often seen in the media supporting the team. This factor could definitely help Porter Jr.'s case for wanting to stay in the Steel City for the entirety of his career. He himself has quickly become a huge figure in the city and the overwhelming majority of those connected to Steelers football know that he fits in perfectly and believe he should be a Steeler for life.
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