While Pittsburgh Steelers fans are patiently waiting for training camp, all of the focus is on the team's attempt at inking cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to a long-term deal. The former second-round pick is deserving, and we could see some drama if Pittsburgh fails to give him a new deal before training camp.
Given how the offseason has gone, something is starting to feel off about the lack of a Porter deal.
The Steelers have clearly been open to paying out big money on extensions this offseason. Frankly, it is refreshing for this team to have young, developed players worth paying.
Porter is certainly a name that fits this category. He is the closest thing to a lockdown cornerback that this team has had in years. Yet no deal has materialized, which is puzzling.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking too long to secure Joey Porter Jr. to a new deal
Porter warrants a big-money deal. While rumors are that he wants $30 million a season, that could quickly become a reasonable number.
Is Porter worth top-five or better cornerback money? I’d say yes. He has continued to improve every year. While the interceptions aren’t there, quarterbacks fail to record high passing grades when targeting him in coverage.
Other names like Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon are also in line for new deals. Both could realistically reset the cornerback market. Either of them signing just means Porter can ask for more money.
It isn’t like Pittsburgh has been stingy with deals this year. They had Darnell Washington top the market for a blocking tight end with ease. More notably, they paid big money to Nick Herbig. His deal felt like it came in at the top of his market.
If the Steelers are willing to pay out that kid of money to Herbig, giving Porter more money feels like a no-brainer. Especially when these deals are usually cuttable after two years.
It feels like the hold up has to be something else. Unless the team suddenly got cheap.
My guess is that the team and Porter are caught up on guaranteed money. The Steelers have been more lax on this policy in recent years, but they still only reserve those kinds of multi-year guarantees for nearly top-of-the-market deals.
Porter is borderline, but realistically that ties you to him for only one additional season. A standard Pittsburgh deal usually locks in a player for two years. Adding in some guaranteed money jumps that one more year.
Do you anticipate having Porter on the roster over the next three years? I would think so. If that’s the case, more guaranteed money isn’t the end of the world.
It just feels strange. The Steelers have been willing to spend this offseason, and yet their top candidate to get a new deal is still unsigned. Something is off, and time will tell if there is more to this.
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