​We Now Know What’s Holding Up Joey Porter Jr.’s Extension With Steelers originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As the Steelers look to build off a 1-0 start to the season, the status of cornerback Joey Porter Jr. continues to hang over the franchise.Porter Jr. is and Pittsburgh have been negotiating a new contract extension for months, but were unable to come to an agreement on a deal before Week 1 began. The Steelers typically don’t like to negotiate contracts during the season, leaving it possible that Porter Jr. has already played his last game with the team.It appears as though the Steelers and Porter Jr. couldn’t agree on one particular part of the contract structure, creating an impasse between the two sides. As long as neither side is willing to budge, Porter Jr. time with the Steelers could be coming to a close.Here’s why Porter Jr. remains unsigned beyond the 2026 season.Joey Porter Jr. contract statusThe Steelers and Porter Jr. are apart in contract extension negotiations, and the biggest disagreement seems to be down to structure of the contract. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reports that Porter Jr. wants fully guaranteed money beyond the first season, which Pittsburgh doesn’t typically do with their deals. Only star pass rusher T.J. Watt was able to win negotiations by getting the Steelers to give him full guarantees after the first year.The crux of Joey Porter Jr.’s extension impasse with the Steelers: contract structure.The Steelers’ organizational precedent is not guaranteeing money past the first year — but they made an exception for T.J. Watt. Porter’s side wanted them to deviate from precedent again. https://t.co/T4LeZovRt5— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 18, 2026The Steelers are one of those organizations that operates under certain principles to keep their business as structured and consistent as possible. Those principles include not negotiating contracts during the season or not handing to fully guaranteed deals beyond the first season.Pittsburgh signed three members of its 2023 NFL Draft class, the same class in which the team took Porter Jr., and all three players only got partial guarantees beyond the first season. Keeanu Benton, Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington are all now locked into Pittsburgh for the next four seasons.Porter Jr. is in the final year of his rookie contract and is set to hit free agency in March if he doesn’t get a new extension. The cornerback didn’t play in Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, and he presumably won’t take the field again until he signs a new contract.Joey Porter Jr. statsYearGamesTacklesInterceptionsPasses defended20231743110202416701720251452114Porter Jr. has played in 47 games for the Steelers, producing three interceptions while totaling 31 passes defended. The cornerback is also just 26 years old as he enters his fourth NFL season.More SteelersLatest Steelers newsHow ‘Renegade’ became