Joey Porter Jr. has requested a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the request, and Brooke Pryor and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN detailed a standoff that one source believes may have no happy ending.
“I don’t know if he ever puts on a Steelers uniform again,” a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.
Negotiations on an extension ran until hours before Pittsburgh’s Week 1 kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons, and the sides never reached a deal. The Steelers, as a rule, do not negotiate extensions during the season.
The dispute is about guarantees, not the annual average.
Many of Pittsburgh’s deals for core players fully guarantee only the first year. Keeanu Benton, Darnell Washington and Nick Herbig, all members of Porter’s 2023 draft class, signed four-year extensions this summer that guarantee 2027 for injury only. Porter wants stronger protection.
The Steelers have broken that precedent before, guaranteeing $108 million for T.J. Watt in the summer of 2025.
“It never even got that far,” a source said of any talks on a per-year figure.
The market works against Porter. Each of the 10 highest-paid cornerbacks by annual average has at least one Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection, and Porter has neither. All but one of them, Dallas’ DaRon Bland, were first-round picks.
Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon, both from Porter’s 2023 class, reset the position with extensions this offseason. Both had fifth-year options exercised, which gave New England and Seattle a reason to act early. As a second-round pick, Porter has no option year.
Pittsburgh holds leverage. Porter is under contract through this season, and the team could use the franchise tag before he reaches free agency in 2027.
Neither side has made or received a serious trade inquiry. One NFL executive told ESPN the Steelers could get a second-round pick and a quality Day 3 selection for him. Fowler has also written that the Cowboys, 49ers and Lions could look at him as a fit.
Asante Samuel Jr. is part of the calculation. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal to return after joining Pittsburgh late last season, and the team is comfortable with him as a starter.
Cameron Heyward, the team’s longest-tenured player at 16 years, remains optimistic.
“We’re here to support Joey in any way possible,” Heyward said. “I wish it would’ve got done, not my decision, but I still think he’s going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler in the future, and I just want to support Joey the best way I can. Hopefully he comes back to us whenever he’s ready, and we’ll go from there.”
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.
