The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ summer break is about to end, with camp in Latrobe on the horizon. In just two weeks, the entirety of the Steelers ‘ 90-man roster will report to Saint Vincent College for what is essentially the start of the 2026 season.

Only one of the best players on that roster has yet to receive the long-term financial security that he is coveting. That, of course, is Joey Porter Jr. Porter has made it clear that he wants to be paid among the elite at the position, but the Steelers seem to be dragging their feet, to say the least. So today, Kyle Crabbs and I of A to Z Sports go through a mock contract negotiation for Porter. He will represent Porter, and I’ll explain things from the Steelers’ point of view. Let’s dive in.

The case for Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter Jr.’s Representation:

Joey is going to turn 26 years old just in time for the start of training camp. That makes this essentially his one opportunity to secure a large second-contract given how the league treats cornerbacks once they near 30 years old. So with that in mind, Porter Jr. needs to seize the moment with this contract.

The biggest knock on Porter Jr.’s resume is the interception totals, as he’s logged just one in each of his first three seasons in the league. But the current APY king, Trent McDuffie, has the same number of career interceptions while playing in one extra season. McDuffie is earning an average of $31M per season. He’s leading Sauce Gardner ($30.1M), who also has three career interceptions in four seasons.

So the interception argument isn’t really going to hold water. We do recognize that Porter Jr., as soon to be 26 years old, misses the prime window for corner extensions. But DaRon Bland was 26 when he signed a four-year, $90 million extension in 2025 — equal to 8.06% of that year’s salary cap. Bland got interception numbers, but he was also coming off of a down year when he signed that mark, while also splitting time as a nickel defender.

Porter Jr. has cut his penalties down by 50%, posted a career-best passer rating allowed of 55.9 in 2025, and is a staple on the perimeter. His marks should (comfortably) clear the standard of a 26-year-old extension. We’re seeking to split the difference between Bland’s 8.06% AAV as a percentage of cap with the top tier of cornerback contracts: there are three deals signed (McDuffie, Gardner, and Derek Stingley Jr.) that exceed 10% AAV as a percentage of the cap.

We’d like Porter Jr. to become the highest-paid 26-year-old at signing at the position and we’d like his deal to slot him at 9% AAV as a percentage of this year’s $301.2M salary cap, an average of $27.1 million per season. We are seeking a three-year deal, leaving Porter Jr. open for another contract signing before turning 30 years of age.

Asking price: 3-year, $81.3M extension

View this post on Instagram

Steelers side of the negotiations

Crabbs lays out a ton of good points for Porter Jr., and I’ll be totally honest, I think the Steelers would oblige with a deal that pays Porter $27.1 million in AAV, but it seems like Porter and his representation want something that places him in the Mt. Rushmore of AAV.

Something in that north of 10% AAV range where Porter is among the elites like Sauce Gardner, Stingley, and McDuffie. That’s where I’m pumping the brakes if I’m the Steelers. Porter has been the best corner in Pittsburgh for some time.

He should be a franchise pillar. But he has yet to receive the notoriety in both the postseason and individually, the same way as those three. You pay players based on what they will do, not what they have done, so the Steelers can project Porter to peak in a couple of seasons. But is that peak going to be worth the truly elite money? Thats quite literally the million dollar(s) question.