With Keeanu Benton now under contract, the Steelers are down to one major piece from their 2023 draft class that still needs a deal: Joey Porter Jr.
Porter Jr. is coming off a breakout 2025 campaign and has quickly become the final priority in Pittsburgh’s push to lock up the core of that class. Nick Herbig, Benton and Darnell Washington have all already been secured for four more years, leaving the cornerback as the last big box to check.
The timing matters, even with Porter Jr. currently on the PUP list because of a back injury. That issue is not expected to change the basic direction of negotiations, and it should not seriously alter the odds of a new contract getting done before the regular season.
There is still some financial maneuvering ahead for Pittsburgh. Benton’s full contract details have not been revealed, so the Steelers’ cap picture for the next few years is still a little cloudy. For now, though, they have $3.163 million in cap space for 2026 and $3.938 million in 2027, per Over the Cap.
That means some restructuring likely is coming. T.J. Watt and DK Metcalf stand out as two obvious candidates to have their deals adjusted, and Pittsburgh should be able to create the room it needs for Porter Jr. as the cap continues to rise year after year.
The market at cornerback has already been pushed upward this offseason. Denzel Ward signed for $31.1 million per year with the Cleveland Browns, while Trent McDuffie landed at $31 million annually with the Los Angeles Rams.
Porter Jr. may not top either of those numbers, but a deal in the neighborhood of $30 million per year would not be a surprise.
He also has reason to wait. Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon still need new contracts from the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, and Porter Jr. can watch to see what they get before deciding whether to sign with the Steelers.
The expectation is that Porter Jr. will return from the PUP list once he has a new deal in place. The real question is when that happens.
Pittsburgh would clearly prefer to get this done soon, and while Porter Jr. has every right to take his time, neither side benefits if the situation drags into the regular season. That possibility could push things forward before Week 1.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have A Mason Rudolph Decision They Didnt Expect
Mason Rudolph entered camp looking like the clear favorite to sit behind Aaron Rodgers on the Steelers quarterback depth chart, but the picture has become a little more complicated than that. Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar are in the mix too, which means Pittsburgh suddenly has a real decision to make on a player who was expected to provide a steady, familiar hand as the backup.
The twist is that Rudolph has also surfaced in trade chatter, with Houston mentioned as a possible landing spot as it looks for extra quarterback depth. For Pittsburgh, it leaves an awkward question: keep the veteran insurance policy in place, or see whether the younger options can force their way into the No. 2 role and make Rudolph expendable if the right offer comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers QB Battle Puts Will Howards Future In Serious Doubt
The Steelers quarterback room already looks crowded for 2026, and the squeeze could make Will Howard the odd man out. Pittsburgh currently has Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew Allar and Howard on the depth chart, giving the organization more options than it can realistically carry long term. That has turned Howards standing into a real question as the roster picture starts to come into focus.
The discussion around who stays and who goes has also grown louder because the debate is not simply about keeping four arms around. Andrew Fillipponi and former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have both gone on record favoring Howard over Rudolph for retention and playing time, which adds another layer to an already tricky decision. For a team trying to map out its future behind center, the next move could say plenty about how it views Howards place in it. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Allar Just Gave Steelers Fans A New Reason To Wonder
Drew Allar made his first preseason appearance look about as smooth as a rookie quarterback can hope for, showing the kind of poise that can quickly get a fan base talking. The Steelers quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and he added a rushing score as well, a debut that naturally gave Pittsburgh plenty to chew on after a summer of waiting to see how he would look in live action.
The bigger picture, though, is still the same for now. Aaron Rodgers is slated to open the season as the starter, with Will Howard ahead of Allar on the depth chart, so this was not a performance that changes the immediate pecking order. Even so, a strong first impression from a young passer tends to linger in Pittsburgh, especially when fans are already drawing their own comparisons to what he did in college under James Franklin. [Read more 🡒]