The Pittsburgh Steelers’ ongoing contract dispute with Joey Porter Jr. could be reaching a tipping point.
The former second-round pick is not expected to play in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. He did not partake in training camp and is still getting “ramped up,” as head coach Mike McCarthy has said.
With the season set to begin, though, time has seemingly run out to get an extension done in 2026. The Steelers don’t negotiate contracts during the season, meaning the Steelers would have
to use the franchise tag on Porter in 2027 if they wanted to begin negotiations next year. It may not get to that point, though. According to Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, the Steelers are open to trading Porter.
“The Steelers have been open to listening to offers for Porter,” Schefter and Rapoport report. “But there has not been notable interest at Pittsburgh’s asking price of a premium draft pick — possibly in the first round — and no serious trade talks have developed despite the Steelers’ willingness to deal him.”
The Steelers do have depth at the cornerback position, as Asante Samuel Jr had a terrific training camp and preseason. Should he show that he is capable of being the starter, it may make the Steelers more comfortable to seek out trade partners.
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