Penn State has a ton of equity in star NFL players, but the one position they never had a ton of success at developing was cornerback. However, Joey Porter Jr. bucked that trend, being selected in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers three years ago and quickly becoming one of the better cover guys in the league.
He hasn’t received much recognition for his ability, though, with no Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections to his name. This could be one of the reasons that Porter Jr.’s contract negotiations have hit a snag.
The Steelers have a policy of not doing contract extensions once the regular season starts, so the two sides are running out of time to strike a deal. An agreement doesn’t seem likely, though, after Porter Jr. was noncommittal on playing the 2026 season without a deal, telling reporters, “I don’t know. I got to talk to the guys upstairs and my agents about that.”
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was noncommittal today when asked if he would play without a contract extension.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2026
Story via @bepryor:https://t.co/ix8hIbAKsc
The cornerback market has been exploding recently, with Seattle Seahawks star Devon Witherspoon once again resetting the market in the offseason with a massive four-year, $132 million deal.
There are rumors that Porter Jr. wants to become the highest-paid cornerback, so that could be something else holding up negotiations. The former Nittany Lions star has excelled in his three years with the Steelers, but he is headed for the most tumultuous year of his career. Let’s see if the animosity building between him and the organization affects his on-field play at all.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Former Penn State star entrenched in contract dispute with Steelers