Prior to last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the top defenses in the NFL and General Manager Omar Khan and Co. are looking to bottle up some of that play again. Pittsburgh is looking toward the future of the defense and is pleased with what they have. They might even be looking to extend one of their young stars who has quickly become a fan-favorite. Pittsburgh is confident in what they have and they're ready to act on it by locking down their talent.
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Steelers linebacker TJ Watt firing up the Pittsburgh defense prior to their Week 13 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Joey Porter Jr. has quickly become one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. The former Penn State Nittany Lion has carved himself a good career thus far and has been one of defense's best players in recent years. One of the major improvements Porter has made is cutting down on his penalties that are called on him. Early in his career, he struggled in that department and that often caused a lot of problems for Pittsburgh. Now that Porter Jr. has corrected that, teams are hesitant to target him and he has become Pittsburgh's best shut down corner.
Many people believe Porter Jr. has earned an extension by his play, and it seems as if Pittsburgh agrees. It appears that an extension is coming, but the question is, when is it and what will the value be? The hope is that Pittsburgh and Porter Jr. agree to an extension very soon.
Steelers beat reporter Nick Farabaugh recently spoke on the Locked On Steelers podcast and had much to say about the entire situation.
"You want to get out in front of it before some of these other corner deals comes in and drive your rate up," Farabaugh explained.
If Pittsburgh waits and has other corners across the league get extended before Porter Jr., it could end up being harmful for Pittsburgh and could really drive the price of money up. As any good athlete would, Porter Jr. will certainly use other deals as leverage and ultimately it will cost Pittsburgh more money. The Steelers are not going to avoid extending Porter Jr. because of this, but it is critical that this deal gets done and that way the front office can focus on other players who are due for new contracts in the coming years as well.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. during warmups before a home game in 2025.
Locking up a young cornerstone player early often benefits both sides, as it provides financial security for the player, while giving the team greater flexibility when planning for the future. Porter Jr. has already proven he can be a foundational piece of the defense, and allowing negotiations to drag out would only increase the potential cost of retaining him.
Steelers Need Porter Jr. To Continue To Develop
Pittsburgh has been very pleased with the play of Porter Jr., who has really grown into the player they hoped for when he was drafted. He has lived up to his name and is not stuck behind the shadow of his dad Joey Porter Sr. Porter Jr. has proven that he belongs among the league's rising stars and has established his own identity separate from the legacy of his father. Pittsburgh drafted him with the expectation that he would become a cornerstone of the defense, and he has done exactly that. If his development continues, the Steelers will have a foundational piece to build around for many years to come.
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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. tries to tackle Bills RB James Cook during a home game in the Steel City of Pittsburgh in the 2025 NFL season.
Looking ahead to 2026, the expectations will only continue to grow. Porter Jr. will likely draw the toughest assignments each week and be asked to lead a secondary that features both veteran and younger players. The Steelers believe he has all the tools necessary to become one of the premier cornerbacks in football, but continuing to develop consistency and creating more turnovers will be key to reaching that level.
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