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.

 

You can't compare a multi-year deal to the franchise tag.

The franchise tag is only 1 year, so neither side has to worry about inflation of the cap (~ 20% a year). And the franchise tag for CBs will be kind of low because there's a big drop after the first 3 guys. And I think several of the top 5 contracts are old. So the tag number will be a "deal" relative to market value. I think this is more true at CB than other important positions (like OT or Edge).

And the franchise tag number is pretty much already going to be locked in for the first 2 new years of the deal. Because they'll use the tag on him if he doesn't sign. I don't think we have any other reasonable franchise tag candidates coming up next offseason...I think you can still only tag one guy per season.

Right now putting contract numbers together probably goes something like this.

• We have you cost controlled for this season and the next two after that.
• This season doesn't matter because contracts are about new years. But it gives the team a little leverage because Porter would get money now without risking a career ending injury making it so he never sees a tag or 2nd contract. This might matter less to Porter than the average NFL player because he comes from wealth and it sounds like Porter Sr. didn't spend all his money (i.e., on hookers and blow).
• So the team says: I won't pay you more than the tag value for the first new year and the tag value + 20% for the second year (that's how pay works if you get tagged in 2 consecutive years).
• They need to come up with some value for the following years. But the 2nd year value +20% is probably the starting place. Here the player would only be keeping up with cap inflation, so they would probably ask for more than that. Since these would now be true UFA years, they come at a premium.
• They also need to come up with the "structure" of the contract. Like how much guarantees (especially fully guarantees). And whether the payment is front loaded or back loaded.

I bet there are more things, but it seems like these are the big ones.

With this framework, you could come up with an estimate of what his value would be. Dave at the Depot does this all the time and tends to be really close to the real numbers.

I went through the exercise in a previous thread. I think I got something like $28-29MM if it was a 4 year deal. And probably $30MM if it was a 4 year deal. But there's a good amount of guess work once you get into the numbers for the 3rd new year (again the first 2x new years are basically locked in at the franchise tag value).

There's no real benefit for the team to do more than 5 years because that's how long you can prorate the signing bonus for. And honestly, when they talk about SB money it might be 5 total years, not just 5 new years. I think that would make more sense. And would explain why it seems like most new contracts seem to include 4 new years instead of 5 (when they are negotiated with 1 year left).

 

I think I heard somewhere that there are multiple CBs who are going to sign this offseason (similar situations to Porter).

If that's the case, it's probably good to assume that the tag could see a significant jump in 2027 (which is when we'd tag him).

 

So just bend over and hand him the soap

No thanks

 

If the Steelers want him for the next two years he is theirs

If they want him longer they have proven to be fair but not ridiculous

They will not loose him

 

Dean is 29 and Porter is already the better corner, so no.

 

I'm getting a kick out of the guy who loves overpaying TJ Watt when any observer with half a brain knew it was a ridiculous contract, but he wants to play hardball with a stud cornerback just entering his prime. He's just cracking me up with this nonsense.

 

Judging cornerbacks primarily by the turnovers they force is how you end up with a terrible secondary.

 

I notice someone is still having a reading comprehension problem

Or does he just like posting lies

Both probably no wonder no one likes him

Cracks me up

 

I see someone is about to lie about the very thing he was implying in earlier posts again.

 

I see where someone to save face has taken my clear and factual statement and in order to try to save face has blatantly changed my comment into a complete lie

Boycot liars nobody likes them

 

It is a lot less about revisionist history when it comes to Corners though. Outside of QB, look no further than the Cornerback position as the most difficult position to play in the NFL. A whole lot has to go right for that type of player to develop into even a decent starter; keyword is decent here.


To be a Corner to allow only one TD thus far in his career like Peezy Jr.?! Not too many of those come around too often. Always best to lock those up as soon as one can. As @jeh1856 alluded to, this whole charade of the extension business by the National Media is performative at the very least to being very direct at the most; draw attention to a topic.


Now, Peezy Jr. getting an extension is news. Repeatedly stating as to why or how it isn't getting done sooner isn't. This is how Pittsburgh has historically operated and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future as far as handling contracts. Unless DMR III does something completely off the beaten path, this is the current status quo.

 

Don't forget much of his improvement came under a coach no longer here.

 

Exactly.

Most shutdown corners are playing man coverage a lot and because of that, their eyes are not looking back at the quarterback's eyes or to the line of scrimmage to put them in position to drive upfield to make tackles or interceptions. They drive on the ball when the receiver breaks and get their heads around, but they have less opportunities or even the ability to be stuffing plays near the line of scrimmage or stepping in front of receivers playing zone.

That's what makes them so valuable. They don't need scheme and disguise to succeed. They simply line up against the best wide receivers in the NFL and they consistently limit their production with zero help.

This shouldn't be hard to understand.

Some of the corners that get more turnovers do so because they have help over the top. Bracket coverage because they need help defending great wide receivers. Elite corners do it alone, without help.

Sure, some corners have better ball skills than others.

Then there are the corners that have elite man coverage ability and almost none do. That's Joey Porter Jr.

When it comes to pure coverage, he is at the top of the food chain. The dude is all over wide receivers. That's what everyone is looking for....especially corners coming off of their rookie 4-year contract with many prime years ahead of them. Porter doesn't give up any points...like ever. Why the hell would you let that guy walk?

You don't get rid of a great cover corner that helps to get offenses off the field for a lesser corner in coverage because he gets an extra interception or two a year. You keep the guy that consistently gives the defense a chance to stop offenses over a thousand plays, not the guy that is inferior that gets two more turnovers out of all those plays. If the offense needs more help scoring points, you improve the offense. You don't get rid of a young, home-grown player that is one of the best corners in the NFL at stopping receptions that lead to first downs and touchdowns.

 

I get that.

Porter is a high-level corner with some elite coverage traits. He limits yards surrendered and touchdowns allowed, holds QBs to a low completion percentage (around 54%), and has posted a strong average passer rating against him (71.2). His 31 passes defended in three seasons also show he’s capable of disrupting plays. However, he’s lacking when it comes to true impact plays. The game-changing moments that separate the absolute top cornerbacks from the very good ones. To me, those start with turnovers and consistent plays that get the defense off the field.

Interceptions: Just 3 in three years (only 1 in 2025). That’s well below what you expect from the league’s highest-paid corners.
Forced fumbles: Zero in his entire NFL career.
Pass breakups: This is his strongest area. He has 31 so far in three years played.


Yards surrendered and TD's give-up. Here Porter is elite. With only one pass TD given up , and QB's competent 54% against him for and average QB rating of 71.2%


Porter is a very good, high-level corner with elite traits in coverage metrics (yards/TDs surrendered, QB rating against him) and solid pass breakups. However, his lack of turnovers and forced fumbles keeps him just outside the absolute top tier in my opinion. He’s more of a reliable lockdown guy than a game-changing playmaker in the turnover department. Like I said he is penalty prone. A very good player, but not truly elite and should not get a contact over the Franchise tag amount. Put in some incentives in his contact. IE: Big plays. Omar Khan has be below par on giving out lots of money, on player's 2nd or 3rd contracts. In my opinion this has hurt the Steelers a bit.

Don't get me wrong I want Joey Porter jr resigned, but I also do NOT want the Steelers to give him what his agent is asking for. He not worth that.

https://www.pro-football-reference....1-IMby2jOMkEs3wzFq38LLbApNgqr9wRvyOEdZ2OoYbnA

 

You can't lead in pass breakups if you don't get the targets. The elite CBs get both. JPJ was the second most targeted DB on the Steelers.

Q. Mitchell, C. DeJean, P. Surtain, J. Jobe are the elite. JPJ is borderline in that group. His contract should reflect that.

 

I believe the Steelers will sign JPJ to a good contract
about the second week of training camp

 

i don't mean tomlin either.

 

you also have to factor what this staff values over the last staff. all things may not be equal. defensive minded staff vs an offensive minded staff.