Joey Porter Jr. is straight up not happy with the Steelers, and honestly, who can blame him? While Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington, and Keeanu Benton from his own 2023 draft class are cashing in with massive new deals, Porter Jr., a star corner, is still waiting. Herbig locked down a four-year, $100 million contract, Washington snagged a four-year, $42 million deal, and Benton just got his four-year, $72 million extension. Yet, the biggest domino from that draft class, Porter Jr. himself, hasn’t seen a single offer. This isn’t just a quiet negotiation, folks, this is a full-blown contract stalemate, and it’s getting ugly.
The Big Bucks Are Flowing, But Not for Everyone
Seriously, what’s going on in Pittsburgh? The Steelers have shown they’re more than willing to open the checkbook this offseason, especially for their 2023 draft class guys. Herbig, Washington, Benton, they all got paid. And good for them, right? But for Porter Jr. to be left out in the cold, it just doesn’t make sense. ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, a guy who knows what’s up, dropped the bombshell that Porter Jr. may be upset the franchise is prioritizing other extensions from his draft class. “This one is a classic stalemate,” Fowler said. “I’m told the player has not been happy with the way things have gone because they paid other players.” He added that the team hasn’t even made Porter Jr. a “formal offer to measure with his skillset,” which is just wild when you think about it.
Hard Feelings and a Looming Impasse
It sounds like Porter Jr. isn’t just a little miffed; he’s got “hard feelings.” He feels like he’s been a “really good corner” for them, and for the organization to basically tell him to “play out the contract” without even putting an offer on the table? That’s a slap in the face. Earlier this week, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy called the situation an “impasse,” which, yeah, that’s one word for it. When a star player like Porter Jr. has this much frustration, it’s more than an impasse; it’s a giant red flag. Reports are still saying the Steelers haven’t made an initial offer, which just pours gasoline on the fire. This isn’t just about money; it’s about respect, and Porter Jr. isn’t feeling it.
With the regular season kicking off in just about two weeks, something’s gotta give here. Porter Jr. is expected to become one of the highest-paid defensive backs in the league, making upwards of $30 million per season when this finally gets sorted. But every day this drags on is another day of tension, another day of distraction, and honestly, another day where the Steelers look like they’re playing with fire. This can’t be good for team chemistry heading into a brand new season, can it? We’re all watching to see if they can fix this before the real games begin.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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