At some point in the next few months, the Pittsburgh Steelers will likely extend CB Joey Porter Jr. He had a strong 2025 campaign and is expected to be paid toward the top of the cornerback market.
Porter will be tested immediately to start the 2026 season, and he’s going to be the Steelers’ most important defensive piece in Patrick Graham’s defense.
The Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals in the first three weeks of the season. As the Steelers’ No. 1 cornerback, that means Porter is going to match up against Drake London, A.J. Brown and either Tee Higgins or Ja’Marr Chase to begin the year. That’s no easy task.
Under Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin, the Steelers put Porter on Higgins to try and match his size. That led to them getting cooked by Chase on multiple occasions, including in Week 7 last season when Chase went off for 16 receptions for 161 yards and a score. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Graham put Porter on Chase.
London only played 12 games last season but still finished with 919 yards. During his last matchup against the Steelers, Porter shut him down, allowing just two receptions for 15 yards, and he talked his talk after the game. London will remember that. Shutting him down again will be paramount to the Steelers opening 2026 with a victory.
Then there’s Brown, who had a drama-filled 2025 campaign with the Eagles but is reunited in New England with Mike Vrabel and will have Drake Maye throwing him the ball. Brown had eight receptions for 110 yards and a score against Pittsburgh in 2024. He also terrorized the Steelers during a 2022 game with six receptions for 156 yards and three scores.
In his home debut as a Patriot, Brown will look to do the same again. Porter needs to get the better of him.
It’s important for the Steelers to get off to a strong start to the season. Their Week 10-15 slate is brutal, and the Patriots are the only 2025 playoff team the Steelers face before their Week 9 bye. If the Steelers don’t start the season off at least 2-1, their playoff chances will look dicey.
Porter has a tall task on his hands with a trio of elite receivers to open the season, but he’s going to need to get the better of those matchups.
Porter’s importance can’t be overstated. And if he does indeed sign a new extension, it would be a great way to prove to the team, fanbase and league as a whole that he’s worthy of the money he gets.
There’s a real chance this is the year Porter truly becomes a top-flite cornerback, and he’ll need to show he can be that guy immediately in 2026.
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