The contract impasse continues between the Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers’ policy of not negotiating after the regular season begins seems to prevent anything from getting done.
Porter is well aware of that.
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“It didn’t get done,” Porter said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “It didn’t happen. That’s really just old news for me now. Just mainly just focused on what I’ve got ahead of me, and just really just getting back to 100 percent.”
Asked if he sees himself playing at some point, Porter said, “Yeah, definitely.”
The Steelers could definitely use him, sooner than later. The Bengals come to town on Sunday, and they’ll need to slow down receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Porter is earning $3.924 million in 2026, the final year of his rookie deal. Absent a new contract, the Steelers could apply the franchise tag in 2027.
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As to the possibility of trading him before the deadline (which is 47 days away), they’d get the same draft picks in 2027 if they trade him now that they’d get if they tag and trade him in the offseason.
A long-term contract seems highly unlikely at this point. He needs to decide whether to play for far less than his perceived value, or whether to sit out for all (or most) of 2026.
Could it prompt a trade at or before the deadline? Possibly. There’s an argument to be made that his best play will be to play and play well, notwithstanding the risk of injury at a time when he has no security beyond the current season.
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