Steelers put hard deadline on Joey Porter Jr contract negotiations

The Pittsburgh Steelers are struggling to agree a new contract with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., as the NFL regular season draws nearer. With just 12 days until their first game, the team faces a ticking clock to finalize a deal. Traditionally, the Steelers refrain from contract talks once the season begins, a policy general manager Omar Khan confirms will not change for Porter.

"We won't talk publicly about the negotiations per se, but Joey knows how we feel about him, and I still hope Joey finishes his career here," Khan said. Despite this, several cornerbacks have secured lucrative deals this offseason. Porter's 2023 draft classmate Devon Witherspoon now earns $33 million per year, while Denzel Ward and Trent McDuffie of the Rams reportedly earn $31.1 million and $31 million respectively annually.

Jalen Ramsey, another Steelers cornerback, spoke in support of Porter and emphasized the need for the team to compensate him for his valuable contributions to the secondary and overall defense. An agreement with Porter would mark four players from the team's 2023 draft class receiving second contracts.