Pittsburgh Steelers fans were ecstatic during night two of the 2023 NFL Draft as they watched the team select Joey Porter Jr., son of Steelers' legend and Super Bowl champion, Joey Porter Sr. Not only will Porter Jr have the opportunity to continue the Pittsburgh legacy his father built, but he also fills a large need for the defense at cornerback. Fans might be a little worried at the moment since Porter Jr. has yet to sign his rookie contract, especially when both Broderick Jones and Keeanu Benton have both already signed theirs who were selected before and after him. There are many reasons that could be holding up the negotiations of his rookie deal.
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Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr will have some heavy expectations in Pittsburgh.
Why Hasn't Steelers Cornerback Porter Jr. Signed His Rookie Contract Yet?
Porter Jr. is in a rare situation due to the slot in the NFL draft he was selected. He was picked with the 32nd overall pick which is usually the last pick of the first round, but in 2023, it was the first pick of the second round due to the Miami Dolphins being forced to forfeit their first round pick because of tampering that had to do with them illegally pursuing Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
For Porter Jr., this means he is now signing a second-round rookie deal rather than a first despite being selected 32nd overall. There are some major differences between the two. For instance, first round picks' contracts are usually fully guaranteed throughout the four years of the deal while second round picks usually settle for three years to be guaranteed, with a small percentage of the fourth year being guaranteed as well.
This guaranteed percentage of the fourth year is likely a part of what is holding up Porter Jr's contract being signed, which is understandable because once the rookie contract is signed, it can not be renegotiated.
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Steelers' rookie Joey Porter Jr
Another large difference between first and second round contracts is the fifth-year option. Players selected in the first round have one, while anyone selected past the first round does not. Teams decide whether or not to pick up the player's fifth-year option between the player's third and fourth season. The fifth-year option essentially gives the team the opportunity to sign the player to a fifth year, fully guaranteed contract based off of their performance so far in their career.
The benefit of this for the team is that it can delay the player they selected from entering free agency, where that team would have to compete with the 31 other NFL organizations to re-sign the player. Porter Jr. does not have a fifth-year option, which is actually beneficial for him if he plays well.
If he performs throughout his first four seasons with the Steelers, he has no obligation to re-sign with the team unlike first-round picks when their fifth-year option gets picked up. Porter Jr. will be able to get to the free agent market first, where he will be able to sign for a lot more money than his rookie deal.
Kyle Nelson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers second-rounder Joey Porter Jr. already has big expectations in the town of Pittsburgh.
When Will Porter Jr. Sign?
Steelers' fans would all like to see Porter Jr. sign sooner rather than later so it will not be a distraction for the team once training camp begins. However, Porter Jr. isn't the only second-round pick that hasn't signed his rookie contract yet. Will Levis was selected with the 33rd overall pick by the Tennessee Titans, right behind Porter Jr.
Levis also has not signed his rookie deal as he is likely negotiating how much money will be guaranteed during the fourth year of the contract, just like Porter Jr. As soon as the cornerback signs, it is likely Levis will also put pen to paper shortly after, or vice versa.
Each player likely wants to use the other's fourth-year guaranteed money to drive their own. If Porter Jr. gets a high percentage of his fourth year guaranteed, Levis will as well, but just slightly less. If Levis signs his before Porter Jr. and gets a high percentage guaranteed, Porter Jr's will be slightly higher. As soon as one of these players sign, we will see the other make the commitment.
What do you think of Porter Jr's contract situation, SteelerNation? Let us know in the comments below!
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