Last week, the New York Jets shook up the market by handing All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner a massive four-year, $120 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid corner in NFL history. Now, the Pittsburgh Steelers may already be planning ahead with their next big cornerback contract.
It’s a landmark deal, one that not only rewards elite production but also sets the standard for other top-tier defensive backs looking to cash in. And whether the Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to admit it or not, the clock is now ticking on Joey Porter Jr.
For Steelers fans, this moment is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s great to see a fellow young star like Gardner getting paid. But on the other? The similarities between him and Porter Jr. are impossible to ignore, and they bring some harsh financial realities to the surface.
Since entering the league in 2023, Joey Porter Jr. has done just about everything you could ask of a young corner. He’s grabbed two interceptions and held quarterbacks to a 56.4% completion rate when targeted.
Sauce Gardner? He has three picks and a 55.3% rate since 2022. Their stats are nearly identical, yet Gardner’s new deal has put a spotlight on what Porter might soon command.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must decide if Joey Porter Jr. is worth the financial investement
Joey Porter Jr.’s rookie contract runs through 2026, giving the Steelers some time, but not much. If his development continues at this pace, he’ll be well within range to demand elite cornerback money.
And let’s be honest: Pittsburgh hasn’t exactly been proactive when it comes to handling contracts. Just look at the recent T.J. Watt situation. The team still waited to secure its franchise edge rusher, and now they’re on a ticking clock with another defensive cornerstone.
The real question becomes: can the Steelers afford to keep everyone?
Paying Porter Jr. like a top-five corner will take careful planning, especially with Watt’s deal still unresolved and other stars on the roster nearing contract years.
It’s a tough balancing act, and it puts General Manager Omar Khan in a pressure cooker of future financial decisions.
It’s hard not to worry a little.
We’ve watched Porter Jr. blossom into a lockdown corner, and the idea of letting that kind of talent walk because of cap constraints is gut-wrenching.
Gardner’s deal is great news for corners—but a wake-up call for Pittsburgh. If the Steelers want to build around their young core, they better start planning now.