New Steelers Rumors on Joey Porter Jr. Contract Extension Talks, Potential Timeline for Deal

There is reportedly doubt regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. agreeing to a contract extension before the team's 2026 regular-season opener on Sunday.

According to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, the Steelers and Porter only began to engage in contract talks this week, and Jones has "not been overwhelmed with confidence" in the notion that they will strike a deal before Sunday afternoon.

Jones noted that the Steelers have a policy about not holding contract talks during the season, which means Porter could hit free agency next offseason if an agreement is not made before Sunday at 1 p.m. ET when Pittsburgh kicks off against the Atlanta Falcons.

Selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Penn State, Porter has been a consistent starter over the course of his three-year NFL career.

Starting 41 of the 47 games he has appeared in, Porter has registered 165 tackles, three interceptions and 31 passes defended.

That includes 52 tackles, one pick and a career-high 14 pass breakups in 14 games last season.

Despite his solid play, Jones noted that there were "legitimate questions of whether the Steelers wanted to extend Porter" before they finally started holding talks with him this week.

The son of longtime Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, Porter Jr. is arguably Pittsburgh's top impending free agent along with linebacker Patrick Queen.

The Steelers are under new leadership this season with Mike McCarthy replacing Mike Tomlin as head coach after Tomlin decided to end his 19-year tenure in Pittsburgh.

Tomlin led the Steelers to the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, however, Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since 2016.

If the Steelers don't sign Porter to a new deal before Sunday afternoon, it is fair to wonder if the team's overall success or lack thereof in 2026 will weigh heavily on what they decide to do with Porter, Queen and other impending free agents.

Pittsburgh could always place the franchise tag on Porter or extend him after the season, but if the 26-year-old defensive back hits the open market, he figures to be one of top players available.