The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly looking at a potential trade for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., all because they couldn’t get a contract extension done before the season kicked off. NFL insider Tom Pelissero and The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones are both reporting that Pittsburgh isn’t about to change its organizational policy of not negotiating contracts once the games start. Seriously, Pelissero said there are “no signs the Steelers intend to break” this policy. That’s a huge problem for Porter, who’s in the final year of his rookie deal and wants a long-term commitment.
The Standoff and Porter’s Rough Start
This whole situation is a mess, especially with Porter already dealing with a back injury. He was sidelined for the Steelers’ season-opening win against the Atlanta Falcons and, get this, spent almost all of training camp and preseason on the physically unable to perform list. He tried to get back in it, returning to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, but then left Thursday’s practice because of that same back injury. It’s a tough look for a 26-year-old who is owed $3.9 million in base salary this year.
Jones reports that the Steelers and Porter “did not come anywhere close to an agreement” on an extension during the offseason. It’s clear Porter wants a long-term contract, whether that’s in Pittsburgh or with another team. This means the Steelers would have to trade their top young corner to make that happen. Pelissero is even saying “nobody should rule out the possibility Porter’s next game is in another uniform.” That’s not just talk, that’s a serious heads-up for what could be coming.
Finding a Trade Partner and the Looming Deadline
But here’s the kicker: finding a trade partner isn’t exactly easy. Jones notes that “it has been difficult to find a potential taker for Porter, at that price, this early in the season.” The Steelers picked Porter in the second round of the 2023 draft, and when he’s on the field, he’s a beast. He’s played 94 percent of his team’s defensive snaps and hasn’t allowed a single touchdown in man-to-man coverage. That’s serious talent!
The Steelers have a chance to increase his trade value if they can get him back up to game speed before the November 10 trade deadline. If they can’t work something out with Porter, Asante Samuel Jr., who played every snap in Week 1 and allowed just one catch for 21 yards, could see an elevated role in the secondary. Either way, something’s gotta give.
With the Steelers looking to play Cincinnati next week, all eyes will be on whether Porter even suits up. More importantly, everyone’s watching to see if this contract dispute ends with him in a different jersey. It’s a wild card this early in the season and could dramatically shake up their defense.
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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