Negotiations between the Pittsburgh Steelers and star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. are heating up with a hard deadline approaching, and our own Seattle Seahawks’ massive deal with Devon Witherspoon is absolutely playing a role in the drama. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo dropped the bombshell this week: the Steelers will *not* negotiate with Porter once the season kicks off. They’ve put an offer on the table, but apparently, it’s “not good enough” to get the deal done. Talk about a ticking clock before their Sunday opener against the Atlanta Falcons, especially when this is Porter’s final year on his current deal!
The CB Market Is On Fire, And Our Hawks Lit The Match
So, why isn’t the Steelers’ offer cutting it? Well, the cornerback market has exploded, thanks in part to some massive deals that set the new standard. Our Seahawks, ever the trendsetters, locked down Devon Witherspoon with a four-year, $132 million extension. That’s huge! Then, the New England Patriots followed up by making Christian Gonzalez the highest-paid corner in the league with a four-year, $135 million deal. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says the market is pushing $34 million annually for top corners. Porter isn’t even reportedly asking for that much; he’s looking for something “adjacent,” maybe $29-30 million. But the Steelers have some leverage here, with the franchise tag looming at $23 million in six to twelve months. It’s a high-stakes poker game, and our Hawks unknowingly dealt the first winning hand.
Porter’s Future Hinges On The Next Few Days
Joey Porter Jr. isn’t just some guy, either; he’s an important playmaker for that Pittsburgh defense. The 2023 second-round pick showed up big last season, playing in 14 games and racking up 52 tackles, 14 passes defended, one interception, and a sack. He was a key part of the Steelers’ playoff run! Pro Football Focus even ranked him as the 36th-best corner out of 114 eligible players, giving him a solid 67.6 overall grade. At just 26 years old, the dude is expected to ball out at a high level for years. But where he’ll be doing that remains a total mystery if he and the Steelers can’t get this extension done in the “next couple of days.”
This is wild, right? With the Steelers kicking off their season against the Falcons on Sunday, every single snap Porter takes without a new deal just cranks up the pressure. Is Pittsburgh going to pony up the cash and keep their star corner, or are they gonna play hardball and risk losing a key piece of their defense after this season? The next few days are critical, not just for the Steelers, but for how the entire league values its top defensive backs. Let’s see if our Hawks’ deal pushes them to pay up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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