The Pittsburgh Steelers face an impending dilemma in their secondary as contract negotiations and roster availability converge ahead of Week 1. New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez recently signed a market-shattering four-year, $135 million contract extension, directly impacting the financial benchmark for Pittsburgh's top young cornerback, Joey Porter Jr.
With rumors swirling that Porter could hold out or sit out while seeking a top-tier contract extension, Pittsburgh’s strict policy against negotiating during the regular season creates immense urgency. On “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger,” the former Steelers quarterback highlighted how Gonzalez’s deal alters the landscape for Pittsburgh’s secondary.
"I wonder how much that's
going to have an effect on what JPJ does,” wondered Roethlisberger. “Is he going to say, 'I want that money. Am I okay being a top five guy?' We don't really know. We’re not sitting in those meetings. So, to be determined there. You might be down a guy.
“There's been rumors that he's going to sit out all year. So, therefore, now you only have eight defensive backs. They've always said that they don't negotiate during the season. Now, is that going to change now? You know, we’re going to give a little bit of leeway now because you need a guy, you don’t need a guy. Are they going to just sit there and say, ‘Hey, listen, nope, this is it.’"
If Porter remains off the field, Pittsburgh’s cornerback depth will be tested immediately against elite receiving corps. The front office must rely heavily on veterans like Jalen Ramsey or Asante Samuel Jr. to shadow top targets, leaving little room for error.
The coaching and front office staff have a few more days to work out a deal with Porter before kick-off on Sunday. After that, they face a difficult choice: break long-standing organizational precedent to secure Porter, or risk entering the regular season with a depleted secondary.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: How Christian Gonzalez’s mega-deal impacts Joey Porter Jr.’s future
