Steelers Fans Now Know The Most Likely Timelines For Different Contract Extensions

The Pittsburgh Steelers have all kinds of different players on the current team that they would like to lock up for the long-term future, whether they're key depth pieces or stars that can help carry the team for a long time to come. Luckily, General Manager Omar Khan has plenty of time to negotiate and get those deals done now that free agency and the draft are over. He already did get one done after locking up star kicker Chris Boswell to a long-term deal, and many more are on the way. 

Each player that is due for an extension has a little quirk in how they work, which may affect when these deals will get done. While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, insider Ray Fittipaldo explained the timeline for some of these negotiations.

"You know, if you go back and look at the timing, you know, for the bigger deals, like, you know, Omar [Khan] with TJ [Watt] was done closer to the season," Fittipaldo said. "He did get Minkah [Fitzpatrick] done in June, so maybe um you know, maybe there's a chance that a guy like Darnell Washington or somebody gets done in June. But I think Joey is the one that's going to take a while. You're at probably north of $20 million a year to get him done. And I think sometimes those ones are the trickiest and those are the longest negotiations just because there's so much at stake."

As Fittipaldo pointed out, Khan has put some emphasis on getting extensions done early in the offseason program, which makes perfect sense. The longer negotiations drag out, the more money that the team usually has to pay to lock up the player long-term. That's why for guys like Darnell Washington, extension talks could wrap up quickly with a signature at the bottom of the page. 

Washington will be the backup tight end again, but his value goes way beyond that. He is a fantastic one on one player. The 300+ pounder is built like an offensive lineman, but he can catch and move like a typical tight end can. He is a threat as a blocker and a receiver. Opposing defensive coordinators have to know where he is on the field at all times so they can avoid getting steamrolled.

Meanwhile, Joey Porter Jr. is demanding Top 5 cornerback money at the very least, and he deserves it. He has allowed one touchdown in his entire career, and he finally got over his big penalty problem in 2025. The former 2023 second-round pick has become one of, if not the single-best press corners in the NFL. He is a true game changer. 

Of course, Porter will most likely be starting negotiations at a high number: most likely asking to be the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. Meanwhile, Khan is not a man that backs down easily, so there will be lots of back-and-forth over the next couple of months. With this one expected to be the longest negotiation period in the NFL, talks could go into August or maybe even early September. 

Steelers' Deadline Could Hurt Them In The Long Run

The Steelers have a rule that they put on themselves: no contract negotiations once the season begins. This gives Porter a lot of leverage, as he can push it to the brink and have the team brass just pay him more than what it wants to. 

Pittsburgh needs him on the field, and he knows that. He can just hold-in or holdout until Khan is more willing to accept his terms.

What do you think about the Steelers' timeline for extensions? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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