The Pittsburgh Steelers’ saga with Joey Porter Jr. continues after the cornerback remained out of action throughout the offseason and preseason. It is unclear how far apart the two sides are on a contract extension or whether negotiations are progressing at all. What is clear is that no deal appears imminent and neither side seems thrilled with how the situation has unfolded. If the stalemate continues, it could potentially boil over into what once seemed unthinkable: a trade.
It still feels more likely than not that Porter will play this season regardless of the contract outcome, but he has not made an absolute commitment to doing so. One national insider believes his situation could mirror another former Penn State product’s recent contract standoff.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk appeared on 93.7 The Fan and compared Porter’s situation to another former Penn State standout. That, of course, was Micah Parsons’ contract standoff with the Dallas Cowboys. Like Porter, Parsons entered the final year of his contract while seeking a lucrative extension.
Joey Porter Jr. Situation Could Mirror Micah Parsons
The major difference was that Parsons made it abundantly clear he would not suit up for Dallas, especially without a new deal. Once Dallas determined Parsons was serious about his stance, the Cowboys ultimately traded him to the Green Bay Packers.
“Once the Cowboys realized Micah Parsons was committed to not playing at all until he got his new contract, that’s when they decided to trade him … If the Steelers could look at all these options that they have and if they believe Joey Porter is not going to play, the only way out of this thing is to trade him.” Florio said.
Steelers Still Have Options and Time With Porter
The Steelers are not necessarily at that point with Porter. There has been no definitive indication that he plans to sit out regular-season games if the two sides cannot reach an agreement. That distinction is important because Pittsburgh has little incentive to move a young starting cornerback unless it believes the situation has become untenable. It would have to be clear that the relationship is broken beyond repair.
Porter remains a cornerstone of the Steelers’ secondary and has established himself as one of the team’s most crucial, young defensive players. Trading him would create another major hole in a secondary already dealing with questions at safety.
However, the longer the contract standoff lasts, the more complicated the situation could become. If Porter eventually makes the same type of commitment Parsons did, Pittsburgh could be forced to consider all of its options.
For now, a trade remains a possibility rather than a probability. The Steelers would presumably prefer to get Porter back on the field and work out a long-term agreement. If they can’t before the September 13th deadline imposed by Omar Khan, they could franchise tag him next offseason. However, if the impasse continues and becomes a distraction into the regular season, the situation could take a dramatic turn.
