ESPN urges the Steelers to do the one thing everyone wants to see get done ahead of the start of the 2026 NFL season
There is one move the Pittsburgh Steelers have left to make this offseason, and it could be the deal that puts the Steelers over the top for years to come.
If there is anything the Pittsburgh Steelers have left to get done this offseason, it’s securing the future of their defense for years to come. The Steelers have had a busy offseason thus far, signing players like Nick Herbig, Chris Boswell, and even tight end Darnell Washington.
But the player whom everyone wants to see get signed is legacy talent Joey Porter Jr. Quickly blossoming into one of the best corners in the league over his three-year career, Porter is going to break the bank; it’s just a question of when.
Key Steelers offseason additions
- WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- RB Rico Dowdle.
- S Jaquan Brisker.
ESPN urges Steelers to extend cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
“Porter was taken at the top of the second round in the 2023 draft, so he’s coming to the end of his rookie deal. There’s no fifth-year option at play here, so the Steelers need to re-sign him now to keep him around.”
“Porter is a very talented cornerback who finished 10th in the league in my coverage DVOA metric last season. The problem is that Porter will want top-five cornerback money, and there isn’t necessarily evidence that he belongs in that stratosphere. Perhaps the Steelers can get him to agree to something that might be higher than they want to go but lower than what players such as Trent McDuffie and Sauce Gardner recently got paid.” – Aaron Schatz, ESPN
The holdup in a Joey Porter Jr. deal
Right now, it’s clear that while discussions are ongoing, the two sides have yet to come to terms, and it all comes down to the bottom line. Porter wants to be paid among the elite in that position group, but there is a chance that he resets the cornerback market. That’s a situation the Steelers likely want no part of, but the market is the market, and Porter Jr. has proved worthy.