Joey Porter Jr. is officially the last young cornerback left holding out for a contract extension. This whole thing blew up early Tuesday when the New England Patriots locked down All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez with a monster four-year, $135 million deal, including $102 million guaranteed. Now, with kickoff for the season just five days away, Porter Jr. is still looking for his new contract before Sunday afternoon.
The Clock Is Ticking, And It’s Not Stopping
NFL Network/ESPN insider Ian Rapoport isn’t throwing in the towel yet, though. He was on The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday saying, “I would say, ‘the season has not started yet.’ Until the season starts, I will not give up hope that this could get done.” That’s a bold stance considering play begins in five days, which is the unofficial official deadline. The Steelers have a team policy from the 1990s: no negotiations once the season starts. So yeah, time is running out. A trade isn’t looking likely either, meaning Porter would play out his rookie contract for just under $4 million and stick with the Steelers. Rapoport even addressed the trade whispers, saying he’s “not sure at this point whether or not those are going to come to fruition.”
Market Reset, But Not For Porter Jr. Yet
NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo confirmed Tuesday that the Steelers actually made an offer, but extension talks are “far from close.” Rapoport added that while there have been “some conversations,” they don’t seem “far along contract-wise.” You’d think the Gonzalez deal, setting the market as the “highest-paid,” would make things easier by building out market information. Yet, here we are. Porter Jr. was a force last year, racking up 52 tackles, 14 passes defended, one sack, and one interception in 14 games. He didn’t even allow a touchdown in man coverage, often taking on the opponent’s top receiver later in the season. The Steelers’ updated depth chart on Tuesday listed their starting cornerbacks as Joey Porter Jr. OR Asante Samuel Jr. opposite Jamel Dean. That feels like a pretty clear message for Porter Jr. to suit up against the Falcons and get this sorted.
So, what’s next? Porter Jr. and the Steelers need to get to the table fast, because once that game against the Falcons kicks off, it’s a wrap for negotiations until next offseason.
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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