The Pittsburgh Steelers will face a couple tough choices with the team’s incumbent projected free agents next spring. The biggest of which will be with starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Porter has put aside penalty issues early in his career to become a solid starter for the Steelers. In 2025, Porter posted 52 combined tackles, 14 pass defenses and one interception in 14 games.
But to keep the 25-year-old cornerback beyond the 2026 campaign, it could be very expensive.
On May 4, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo detailed how contract negotiations between Porter and the team could go. DeFabo argued the asking price from Porter’s agent could start at $30 million per season.
“Trent McDuffie and Sauce Gardner recently signed four-year deals worth upward of $120 million at the end of their rookie deals. Derek Stingley Jr. signed a three-year, $90 million deal. If I’m Joey Porter Jr.’s agent, I’m asking for $30 million a year,” wrote DeFabo.
“If I’m the Steelers, I point out that McDuffie has been a first-team All-Pro and Gardner and Stingley have been selected to two Pro Bowls each, while Porter hasn’t been selected to one. I’d counter with something similar to what Tyson Campbell got in 2024 (four years, $76.5 million).
“If I’m Porter’s agent, I say Porter is a top-10 corner and Campbell is top-30 and say, give me that $30 million. If I’m Khan, I say, what about DaRon Bland, a first-team All-Pro in 2023 who signed a four-year, $90 million deal in 2025?”
Ultimately, DeFabo predicted Porter’s next contract’s average annual salary to fall short of $30 million. But DeFabo still projected the cornerbacks’s value from $22-27 million on an average annual basis.
Projecting Next Contract for Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr.
DeFabo didn’t predict what length Porter will get in his next deal. But three-year contracts have become pretty popular around the league.
With a three-year deal, the higher end of DeFabo’s estimation will give Porter a total contract value of $81 million.
Among cornerbacks, that would rank Porter tied for 11th in total contract value. Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell’s deal is $81 million but his contract was four years.
Terrell made second-team All-Pro in 2021. But like Porter, Terrell doesn’t have any Pro Bowl nominations.
If Porter is seeking a four-year deal, $27 million per season would give him a $108 million contract. Only two cornerbacks have a contract with more money than that — Trent McDuffie and Sauce Gardner.
At $22 million per season, Porter would get $88 million on a 4-year deal. That would put him into the top 10 in total contract value at his position.
How Porter Could Further Raise NFL Contract Value
Porter earned a starting job on the Steelers defense halfway through his rookie season in 2023. This fall, he will be entering his third full season as a starter.
According to DeFabo, Porter’s contract value is already pretty high. But the 25-year-old could certainly raise his value with a Pro Bowl or even All-Pro campaign in 2026.
That could be a possibility for Porter with the Steelers returning a bulk of their defensive starters from last season. First-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy also hired Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator this offseason.
The unit could be rejuvenated under a new defensive leader.
In NFL free agency, the Steelers added cornerback Jamel Dean to play opposite Porter. The team also still has Jalen Ramsey to deploy at nickel back and safety.
If the Steelers secondary greatly improves statistical with Dean in the fold and under Graham, it will only give Porter more leverage in contract negotiations.
For that reason, the Steelers would be wise to sign Porter before the 2026 campaign. That appeared to be what DeFabo implied will happen.
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