Omar Khan has been busy this week, signing both Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington to contract extensions. Now, the focus turns to Keeanu Benton and Joey Porter Jr., the latter of whom Steelers reporter Jeff Hatthorn thinks could be very expensive.
“I think he wants top-five [cornerback money]. Like, he talked about respect, and what he’s owed, and what he’s earned,” Hathhorn said Thursday on 93.7 The Fan. “I think the total amount is gonna depend on the number of years, and what the guarantee is…I’m sure the Steelers want control, and want many years. Joey may have a different thought process.”
Porter certainly proved himself during the 2025 season. He had plenty of bright moments in his first two years but was dominant to end the year and did a great job to trim down the penalties called on him. He’s never been short on confidence and has said many times he believes he’s one of the elite corners in the NFL.
Whether Porter deserves to be paid like a top-five cornerback is in the eye of the beholder. In terms of annual average value, the five highest-paid cornerbacks are Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., Jaycee Horn and Jalen Ramsey. The first three all make over $30 million per year. Then it drops to $25 million with Horn, and Ramsey comes in a $24.1 million.
“$24, $25 [million] might be the basement floor for him,” Hathhorn said Wednesday. “Porter’s 25. The guys on the list, look at the top-20 salaries, there are two guys that are 30. And one of those guys plays on the same defense as him, Jalen Ramsey.”
There certainly is an argument for Joey Porter falling into that range. At 25 years old, he is around the same age compared as the four highest-paid corners. Now that he’s proven he can clean up his penalty issues, the Steelers have a cornerback who’s remained consistently healthy and shut down some talented receivers to end the 2025 campaign. With the Steelers not paying a franchise quarterback, they could be more willing to dole out money to other positions.
However, giving Porter big money likely means the Steelers would have two of the six highest-paid corners at the same time. Is that something they’d be willing to do? Ramsey still has a couple years on his deal. The salary cap doesn’t figure to be much of an issue for the Steelers at the moment, but it’s a big commitment to make. Although Ramsey is more of a chess piece at this point in his career.
Some will point to Porter’s lack of ball production, and potentially the Ramsey contract, as a reason not to make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks. But in totality, it makes sense to extend Joey Porter Jr. at that price. Porter seems like a player who knows his worth. And given the Steelers’ current situation, he’s worth a whole lot. Hathhorn thinks he could become one of the position’s highest-paid players.
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