Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward dealt with his own contract dispute before agreeing to a contract sweetener before the 2025 season.
Joey Porter Jr. finds himself in a similar predicament, looking for a new deal before the Steelers take the field against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Porter is due to make just under $4 million in the final year of his rookie contract.
Top corners Devon Witherspoon (Seahawks) and Christian Gonzalez (Patriots) have reset the core back market with deals
exceeding $100 million guaranteed.
One angle the Steelers could take with Porter Jr., if they don’t agree on a deal, is to place the franchise tag on him and retain his rights for 2027. Porter Jr. would earn $24 million, a $20 million raise but less than the projected $27-30 million he could earn with a long-term contract. The longest-tenured Steeler thinks the franchise tag is pointless for players and shouldn’t be eligible to be used in the league.
“It’s stupid,” Heyward said after practice. “It hampers players. Why should any team be able to take advantage of a player for one year?”
The Steelers signed 2023 draft picks Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington, and Keeanu Benton to deals, leaving Porter Jr. as the lone remaining contributor.
“It’s used in negotiations, and I think between the player options, the franchise tags, the way they control rookies, I think it’s kind of backwards,” Heyward said.
The Steelers put a team policy in place during the 1990s that they would not negotiate with players in season, meaning only days remain for Porter Jr. and the franchise to agree to terms. There is still time, and negotiations can change in a dime. NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo said on Tuesday that the Steelers have made an offer to Porter Jr., but the two sides remain far apart.
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