Joey Porter Jr contract negotiations

If you look up the INT and forced fumbles leaders from 2025 you will not find few "top" CB in the listings.
Porter and his agent are likely looking at more "analytics" stats like forced incompletions, win rate, and coverage snaps per target.

What do the Steelers value? I guess that will be the question.

 

Im going to be honest here.
If they don't sign JPJ .....I will be personally more upset with losing him than anyone I can think of in a very, very ,very long time.
JMO ,but You don't let good CBs, or Qbs go, and again JMO the two hardest positions to find great ones at.

 

The 49ers Jimmy Johnson was considered the best CB in the NFL during the 70's. His HOF career lasted 16 years but he averaged less than 3 picks a year because no one dared to throw the ball on his side of the field. On the other hand the Cowboys Everson Wall was always among the league leader in interceptions because he was so bad in coverage that he was bombarded with passes in his direction, so naturally he had a lot greater chance of getting a pick now and then.

 

I’m not one of those guys who memorizes every player’s contract. Ask me who the top 5 highest-paid cornerbacks were in 2024 and I’d have to look it up — same as most fans.That said, I like Joey Porter Jr. a lot. He’s got the size, the physicality, and the pedigree. He is a little flag prone. But I do think he needs to start making more big plays. He’s averaging one interception per year so far. Give me 2–3 picks a season consistently, plus a forced fumble, and we’re talking about a true shutdown corner that can give us the ball back.

Yes he is very productive in yards given up and TD's surendered. But he also draws a bit too many flags.

On the money side: The franchise tag for cornerbacks in 2026 is $21.16 million. That feels like a realistic anchor point for Porter right now. I wouldn’t be against giving him a deal structured around that number. A base salary close to the tag, with meaningful incentive bonuses that can push him over $21.15M (or even a bit higher) if he performs.

For example bonuses:

2+ interceptions
1+ forced fumble
Playoff appearances / All-Pro consideration, etc....

That way the Steelers protect themselves if the big plays don’t materialize, but Porter gets paid like a top corner if he starts producing like one. That would be a Win-win.

 

I think I was not clear enough with my point.

If you look up the 2025 stats and then look up the top CB contract values...what you are advocating for does not match up. Top CBs are not littering the INT list, the tackles list, or the forced fumbles list. They just don't see the ball enough. And I should be clear...I do not mean NONE....I just mean not many.

https://overthecap.com/position/cornerback
https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-interceptions-by-cb-in-nfl-2025-season

Porter's penalties were actually lower than many of this comparable peers (Surtain, Stingley, Mitchell, etc): https://www.nflpenalties.com/position/defensive-back?year=2025&view=players

Porter is already producing like a top CB. He's gonna get paid by someone like one. I hope it is the Steelers.

 

Yes.

 

Players do not have to sign the franchise tag. Then, you have a player sitting out while making $20M+ with a 'sore hammy'.


Why make things ugly. Sign him to a new deal or trade him now.