Deadlines spur action, and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, one is quickly approaching.
With all contract talks set to cease at the start of the regular season, local insider Ray Fittipaldo believes Joey Porter Jr.’s extension may not be resolved until the 11th hour.
“Yes, I think it will get done before the season, but I don’t expect it to get done early in camp unless Porter is motivated to sign. If he’s willing to hold in I think it might be a while until something happens,” Fittipaldo wrote during his weekly P-G Steelers chat. “I think the number will be around $24 or $25 million a year and I think it gets done late in camp or just before the season starts.”
With other notable contract negotiations playing out around the league at cornerback, it’s unlikely that both of Fittipaldo’s predictions will come true. If it drags into September, Porter’s asking price will almost certainly have gone up beyond the $24 or $25 million range.
Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon are each capable of resetting the top of the market, strengthening Porter’s case in the process.
If the Steelers want to sign Porter around the $25 million APY range, they most likely need to hammer the deal out as soon as possible and include some strong guarantees to sweeten the pot.
But if one of the other top corners beats Pittsburgh to the punch with a new contract, Porter’s asking price could start closer to $30 million APY.
The gamble to let negotiations drag on could pay off for Pittsburgh. Perhaps the only way both of Fittipaldo’s predictions come true is a scenario where the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks punt to next offseason. That’s not impossible with both Gonzalez and Witherspoon having fifth-year options in their first-round rookie contracts.
If neither extension materializes this offseason, Porter may ultimately have to settle around $25 million APY. That contract would look like a bargain a year from now, if his development continues. Porter and his representatives undoubtedly recognize that possibility, giving them every reason to remain patient until the deadline.
Above is all the financial side of getting a deal done, but there’s also a significant football-related reason to consider.
With a new coaching staff in town, an early September extension would mean Porter gets nothing but mental reps leading into the start of the season. That wasn’t such a big deal when Watt was holding in with the same head coach, defensive coordinator and position coach in place. For Porter, it could lead to a rocky start of the season in which Pittsburgh is effectively all-in around 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
All considered, it may be in Pittsburgh’s best interest to sweeten the pot now. If the Steelers are currently comfortable with a $24 million APY deal, pushing closer to $28 million with stronger guarantees could be a worthwhile investment to eliminate uncertainty and ensure Porter is fully prepared for the season.
What’s a few million dollars relative to how important Porter is to the present and future of the team?
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