Joey Porter Jr. is coming off his best season entering a contract year, and Steelers GM Omar Khan knows what that means. Having spent decades negotiating contracts, it’s time for him and his crew to begin those conversations. Well, not quite now, but heading into training camp, because they know he is part of their future core.
A 2023 second-round pick, Joey Porter Jr. cemented himself as an every-down starter by the middle of his rookie season. They respect his game enough to assign him shadow responsibility, though they only deploy that on occasion. Last season, he cut down on some of his bad habits, just in time for the financial rewards. And he is already capturing the attention of the next generation of cornerbacks.
“Joey [Porter], he gets better every year,” Khan told local Steelers media during a closed-door press conference at the Combine this past week. “It’s been good. I’m excited for these guys, this new staff to get to know him.”
Khan also referenced the 2023 draft class as a whole, which was his first as the Steelers’ GM. Porter was the second draft pick he ever made after taking Broderick Jones in the first round. While Jones’ future is unclear due to injury, that class produced several contributors.
And that means, going into Year 4 for that group, they are all due for extensions. Porter is the top name among them, but they would also like to get something done with the rest. There’s Keeanu Benton, a full-time starter on the defensive line. Darnell Washington is, in many ways, their top tight end. As for Nick Herbig, the Steelers believe he would be a starter on many other teams. But how do you get a starter-level player to agree to sign an extension for backup money?
Despite missing three games last season due to injury, Joey Porter Jr. recorded a career-high 14 passes defensed. He had 17 combined in his first two seasons, so he nearly doubled his career total. He also recorded his first career sack, though that was more of a technicality. As a tackler, he arguably took a step back, but he drew far fewer penalties.
Porter admitted at the end of last season that he believes he should have been in the Pro Bowl. His single interception did him no favors, especially considering he could have easily had two or three others. Aside from penalties and occasionally his tackling, the lack of splash plays has been his downfall.
Thus far, Porter has three career interceptions, one each season. If he can turn three or four of those passes defensed into takeaways, he could be looking at a much larger contract. As it stands, however, he has clearly cemented himself as the Steelers’ best cornerback.
Right now, the cornerback market is Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., and then everybody else. Both are making $30 million per year or more, clearing any other contract by at least $5 million. However, there are eight cornerbacks making at least $20 million. More than 20 are earning at least $16 million. Where will Joey Porter Jr. eventually slot in?
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