How long can a standoff last when only one side holds the cards? While high-profile peers like Devon Witherspoon, Denzel Ward, and Christian Gonzalez redefined the cornerback market, Joey Porter Jr. is trying to force Pittsburgh’s hand by sitting out drills since late July. But the Steelers aren’t flinching. Due to an overlooked twist in how Porter was selected during the 2023 NFL Draft, the franchise controls his future. How? Let’s find out.

The Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr. at No. 32 overall using the pick acquired from Chicago in the Chase Claypool deal. However, because Miami forfeited its first-round selection for tampering, Porter was officially stamped as a second-round pick. That subtle classification difference means no fifth-year option. Now entering 2026 in a contract year, the 26-year-old cornerback is feeling the urgency. But if negotiations stall, the Steelers can easily keep him locked in Pittsburgh through at least 2027 using the franchise tag.

Porter may not be vocalizing a market-resetting demand, but the Steelers’ front office sees the leverage play clearly. Explaining how this high-stakes chess match will unfold, Steelers on SI analyst Noah Strackbein mapped out the reality facing the star defensive back.

“I think they’re playing the game,” Noah said. “So I think Joey wants the highest corner money, and there’s zero reason to come down from that right now, zero. Why would you? The Steelers are nowhere close to that. They hold the leverage. Anybody could say whatever they want about, you know, Joey holds the leverage; they don’t.

“The Steelers control Joey financially for the next two years minimum, unless he does not want to play in the NFL at all. At that point, he’ll be 28 years old; he’ll have one big contract in him. It makes no sense financially, none at all, for Joey to not sign a deal this offseason.”

Currently, Porter is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with back tightness as he waits for the contract situation to be resolved ahead of the Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons on September 13. The Steelers have never made contract extensions in the middle of the season, so whatever happens will happen in the next week and a half. Moreover, a quick decision will also prevent the franchise from losing one of its top young defensive players in free agency.

When playing for the black and Gold, Porter held opposing QBs to a poor 48.5% completion rate last season. He also carries the current longest active streak in the NFL without conceding a touchdown when targeted. Despite this, Porter heads into his final rookie contract year, earning just $3.924 million in base salary.

To make matters worse, Porter’s 2023 draft classmates have already secured lucrative extensions this summer. OLB Nick Herbig signed a $100 million deal, DL Keeanu Benton signed a $72 million deal, and TE Darnell Washington secured $42 million. Joey Porter Jr., who was drafted ahead of all three, now sits as the only one waiting on a contract extension.

Honestly, if the Steelers genuinely want to earn Joey’s loyalty to the team and not just keep him trapped, they need to make him happy. Indeed, Porter hasn’t quite yet reached the level of the highest-paid CB, like Devon Witherspoon, with just three interceptions in three seasons, but he sure isn’t that far away either. While Porter Jr. reportedly wants a similar valuation to Witherspoon, the Steelers value him closer to $28 million.

“In this negotiation, the Pittsburgh Steelers just control way too much for Joey to play hardball longer than this offseason and sign a deal next year,” Noah Strackbein concluded.  

If this standoff stretches into next month, Pittsburgh’s offseason deal for Asante Samuel Jr. will look like an absolute steal. Samuel stepped up during training camp to hold down the fort opposite free-agent signing Jamel Dean. Beyond those two veterans, the Steelers boast a deep, fiery secondary.

Third-round rookie Daylen Everette proved at St. Vincent College that he won’t back down from a challenge, while three-time first-team All-Pro Jalen Ramsey is back after overcoming an early-summer knee injury. Head coach Mike McCarthy and his staff have even raved about Ramsey’s unmatched versatility. So, it’s needless to say that Pittsburgh has more than enough secondary firepower to ride out Porter’s holdout.