The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to give out a massive contract extension later on in the 2026 offseason. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL due to his lockdown press coverage while playing on an island nearly every snap. Entering his fourth year in the NFL, the front office is definitely going to want to keep him for the long-term future. It's best to get an extension done sooner rather than later so his price tag does not shoot straight up.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. fights through to stop Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely from scoring.
While making an appearance on The BluePrint Podcast, Porter went into detail on why he believes he is still being disrespected after three strong seasons.
"That's what people really harp on my game about, is the [pass interferences] and the penalties, but it's like 'Y'all hold no other DB under that microscope or grade them under just that,'" Porter said. "Like, I haven't gave up a touchdown in three years. No wide receiver put over 50, 60 yards on my head alone, and I travel with the best of them, and they want to talk about penalties... Even to bring up penalties this year, I had five, which equaled out to 50-something yards. You're saying I'm not Top 5 because I had 50 yards in penalties? Like that's crazy."
Porter did also acknowledge how many penalties he had in 2024, as that was a rough season for him by his standards. However, he was so dominant after he returned from his early-season injury. There is a debate on if he gave up a touchdown or not in 2023, as there was a miscommunication that allowed a receiver to get wide open for a score. The stats say he gave it up, but he does not believe that it seems.
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Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. intercepts a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 5 victory at Acrisure Stadium
Either way, Porter was downright unstoppable in 2025. In 14 games, he allowed 32 completions at a 48.5% completion rate and 332 yards, along with no touchdowns for at least the second straight season. That's an average of a touch over two receptions at just under 24 yards per game. With those numbers, the Steelers will have no issue dealing with a holding penalty from him here or there.
Porter also had 14 passes defended and an interception. Even when passes are thrown accurately, the standout corner is strong enough to make a play on the ball, whether he goes through the receiver or gets in front of him. If he does allow a reception, odds are it's either a quick hitter that he makes a tackle on, or he was playing some sort of soft coverage, which is his biggest weakness as a defender.
Steelers Can Use The Disrespect Of Porter To Their Advantage
With the lack of respect for Porter across the NFL, they may be able to convince him to take a little bit of a discount in his upcoming extension. If other front offices don't see him as a Top 5 cornerback, Pittsburgh may be able to get away with not paying him top dollar. The star defensive back has made it very clear how he sees himself, so negotiations between the two parties will be very interesting to watch.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
As of April 2026, teammate Jalen Ramsey is listed as the fifth highest-paid cornerback in the league, even though he did switch to safety in the middle of the 2025 season. He's making an average of roughly $24 million per year. Lately top cornerback contracts have gone for over $30 million per year, with the Top 3 players at that position reaching or eclipsing that mark. Will Porter get that much, or will the Steelers convince to make less than Ramsey?
What do you think about Porter calling out people for disrespecting him? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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