It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to contract negotiations with Joey Porter Jr.
The team recently handed out multiple extensions and finds itself a little strapped for cap space, while Porter is reportedly considering drastic measures in pursuit of a new deal. But the team holds an ace up its sleeve if the contract talks reach a point of no return: the franchise tag.
Porter's rookie contract is set to expire following the 2026 season, and the Steelers have historically not negotiated new deals mid-season. This means Pittsburgh has a week to sign Porter to a huge, potentially $30-million-plus deal before September 13. That seems unlikely given the noise surrounding the two
sides.
The Steelers, however, can franchise tag Porter following this season, which would cost around $23 million. This would either allow the team to continue negotiating during the 2027 offseason or attempt to at least pick up some trade capital for the talented Porter.
This situation has blown up in the Steelers' face before, such as the Le'Veon Bell holdout. But there are very few choices the team has left if both sides can't come to an agreement this week.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers have a hidden advantage in Joey Porter Jr. contract talks
