The Pittsburgh Steelers have not looked great to start the 2026 season, but the team does have a record of 1-1 and could get things back on track after an embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots in Week 2. The defense has looked great for the Steelers while the offense has left a lot to be desired as the unit has managed to score just one touchdown through two games. The franchise needs and expects more from the offense under new head coach Mike McCarthy, but the silver-lining is that the defense has performed at an extremely high level.
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Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr on the sidelines during Week 1 matchup against the Falcons on September 13, 2026.
Pittsburgh's defense is about to be tested in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have a potent offense that can absolutely erupt and score 30-plus points with ease, so it will be interesting to see how the unit holds up in the AFC North opener. One player Pittsburgh would like to have on the field for the game is cornerback Joey Porter Jr. He has experience against Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and he would be an x-factor if he was able to take the field, but that is probably unlikely as his contract situation has still not been resolved.
The odds of Porter being traded seem to be getting higher and higher, and beat writer Mark Kaboly was asked about a potential trade in a recent mailbag. He spoke about the asking price from the Steelers and what a future solution might be.
"I was specifically told two first-round picks, but a lot has changed since I was told that," Kaboly wrote. "I would assume the price tag isn’t as steep, but I wouldn’t take anything less than a first-round pick. If that means holding him on the roster for the entire year, then tag-and-trade him next year, then that’s what they have to do."
Initially, the Steelers were apparently asking for two first-round selections in exchange for Porter, and that probably would have entailed the Steelers kicking back some sort of Day 3 pick as well. Kaboly doesn't believe the asking price is the same now as weeks have gone by and Porter's actions could hurt his value with other teams around the league.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) stands on the field while his teammates get a workout in during a 2026 training camp practice taking place at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
It doesn't seem like the Steelers and Porter will get a deal done as the franchise does not conduct contractual business once the regular season begins. A trade is probably the most likely outcome, and there are several cornerback-needy teams around the league. The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears are at the top of that list, while the Arizona Cardinals may consider a deal as well.
Steelers Have Arguably Handled This Situation Like Complete Hypocrites
The main reason that there is tension between Porter and the franchise is that he has seemingly valued himself more than the organization has valued him, and that has been portrayed through what the cornerback has asked for and what the franchise has offered him. He made it clear that he was not looking to be the highest cornerback in the league, but he should want to be paid near the top of the market. There were reportedly issues with the guarantees on the offer the Steelers extended to Porter, and that was the main problem.
The issue with this is that the Steelers seemingly wanted two first-round picks for Porter, which shows that the franchise values the cornerback highly. That wasn't reflected on the offers extended to Porter and his team. There is a logical gap there, and it is quite understandable why Porter might be fed up with the Steelers at this point. It will be interesting to see if he takes the field against the Bengals.
What do you you think about the Steelers asking for two firsts? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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