The Steelers still have not closed the book on Joey Porter Jr., and Ian Rapoport says there’s no reason to assume they will before kickoff Sunday.
With the New England Patriots having already locked up Christian Gonzalez on a four-year, $135 million extension that includes $102 million guaranteed, Porter now sits as the last young cornerback left without a new deal. That has turned the next few days into the real pressure point, because once the season starts, Pittsburgh’s long-standing policy of not negotiating in-season takes over.
“I would say, ‘the season has not started yet,’” Rapoport said on The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday. “Until the season starts, I will not give up hope that this could get done.”
That doesn’t mean the situation is close. Rapoport made it clear there’s still a gap, even as the Steelers have engaged enough to make an offer, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. The trade chatter, meanwhile, doesn’t sound any more concrete than it did before.
“There’s been a lot of trade rumors with Joey Porter Jr.,” Rapoport said. “I’m not sure at this point whether or not those are going to come to fruition.”
He also pointed to the Gonzalez deal as the kind of move that helps shape the market for everyone else. Once one top young corner lands a massive extension, it gives teams and agents more to work with.
“There’ve been some conversations, but (it) doesn’t seem like they are far along contract-wise,” Rapoport said. “You get Christian Gonzalez done; that’s come in as the highest-paid. The more information there is, the more the market is built, the easier it is to get deals done.”
If nothing changes, Porter would play the season on the final year of his rookie contract and make just under $4 million. A trade does not appear likely at this point, which would leave him in Pittsburgh for now.
On the field, Porter’s 2024 season gave the Steelers plenty to like. In 14 games, he posted 52 tackles, 14 passes defended, one sack and one interception. He also did not allow a touchdown in man coverage and spent more time shadowing the opposing team’s top receiver as the year went on.
Pittsburgh’s updated depth chart on Tuesday listed Joey Porter Jr. OR Asante Samuel Jr. as the starting cornerbacks opposite Jamel Dean, a setup that looks like a direct nudge for Porter to be on the field against the Falcons while the contract situation remains unresolved.
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