The Steelers are catching heat again over a contract stalemate, but Joey Porter, Jr.’s situation may be more about timing than team failure.
With the New England Patriots signaling they’re ready to make Christian Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon also in line for a big payday, the market at the position is getting set at the top. Both players are represented by the same agent, and the expectation from many around the league is that they’ll establish the standard Porter, Jr. ultimately has to follow.
That’s why the frustration from some Steelers fans is landing on Pittsburgh. If Porter, Jr. still doesn’t have a deal, the easy conclusion is to blame the front office.
But the reality is messier. As the saying goes, “it takes two to tango.”
The Steelers may have already put real money on the table, while Porter, Jr.’s camp waits to see how the Gonzalez and Witherspoon negotiations play out before committing.
That delay makes sense from the player side. If Porter, Jr. had agreed to something in the neighborhood of $28 million per season with meaningful guarantees back during OTAs, the two corners ahead of him in the market could end up landing well above that. And if that happens, Porter, Jr. would be left asking why he didn’t hold out for more.
There’s also another layer here: the Steelers have the Franchise Tag available next year, and nobody involved wants to go down that road. On top of that, Pittsburgh has long avoided doing contracts once the season starts, while New England and Seattle don’t appear to operate under that same rule.
The concern among fans is understandable. If the Steelers wait too long, they could wind up paying more than they would have earlier.
But that doesn’t automatically make this their fault. If Porter, Jr.’s representatives aren’t ready to move, Pittsburgh isn’t going to push into an overpay that only drives the market higher.
Training Camp is almost here, and the deal still isn’t done. Just don’t assume the Steelers are the only side with something to gain by waiting.
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For a club trying to compete now while also keeping an eye on the future, that setup leaves little room for the younger passers to climb quickly. Howard and Allar will have to make their case in a crowded room, and the way the reps are being divided suggests the Steelers are more interested in stability than in a wide-open competition at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]