A year ago, Mike Tomlin made sure that Joey Porter Jr. understood Jalen Ramsey was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top cornerback. In 2026, the tables have turned. Porter is the team’s No. 1, a reality Ramsey has no problem admitting.
“Joey is CB1. Joey’s the guy,” Ramsey told reporters Wednesday via a team-provided transcript. “The growth that I saw from Joey last year, throughout the season to the end of the season, what he did, what he meant to the secondary, and what he meant to the team was huge, I thought personally.”
Pittsburgh traded for Ramsey last June in the hopes of making him the team’s top cornerback, especially in marquee matchups like against the Cincinnati Bengals. That plan quickly went awry as Ramsey’s declining speed became evident, especially during a midseason shootout loss to the Bengals. He finished the year primarily playing safety, and figures to do much of the same even under a new coaching staff.
Porter’s game grew throughout the year. Reducing penalties was a point of emphasis and he cut his flags in half from 12 in 2024 to six in 2025. He continued to be sticky in coverage and has allowed just one touchdown through three seasons. A lack of interceptions and splash plays are about the only negatives when it comes to Porter, but the Steelers will trade that for all the other benefits of his game.
Fresh off Nick Herbig’s $100 million extension, Porter is next in line for a large deal. One that figures to be similar in price tag. During today’s Terrible Podcast, Dave Bryan predicted a four-year extension with $112 million in new money.
With Ramsey playing safety and nickel cornerback, the Steelers enter the year with Porter and Jamel Dean Jr. as their outside cornerbacks. Depth looks solid with Asante Samuel Jr., Brandin Echols, and rookie Daylen Everette, who has reportedly turned heads during spring practices.
The rest of the depth chart will sort itself out, but for the start of 2026 and the foreseeable future Porter is the top guy.
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