As the Pittsburgh Steelers took the field at Saint Vincent College on Wednesday, one notable name was missing. Joey Porter Jr. landed on the PUP list with what head coach Mike McCarthy described as a back flare-up. However, the timing may be the most notable part, as it came during ongoing contract negotiations between Porter and the front office. One domino fell around the NFL on Wednesday that could influence those talks.
Reports indicate the Cleveland Browns and Denzel Ward agreed to a contract extension. The two-year, $62.2 million deal makes Ward the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL on an average annual basis. Porter and his agent almost certainly took notice, and the deal will factor into the negotiations. However, don't expect it to be the biggest domino that could affect these discussions.
Porter's asking price might rise, but only slightly
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The reality is that whatever Porter and his representatives were asking for probably increased. However, it likely rose by only about $1 million annually. In terms of the salary cap, that's the equivalent of a veteran minimum contract. Ward now earns just $1.1 million more per year than the next highest-paid cornerback on an average annual basis. The good news for the Steelers is they didn't see a massive market-resetting deal.
The bad news is that three ticking time bombs remain, and the Steelers have one of them. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks both have 2023 first-round cornerbacks seeking new contracts. If the Steelers don't get a deal done before those negotiations are completed, the consequences could be significant. It could even jeopardize Porter and the Steelers reaching an agreement this year.
Ward isn't the biggest domino on the horizon
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If Christian Gonzalez or Devon Witherspoon resets the market, it could trigger a domino effect. The first deal would drive up the next, then the one after that, and so on. The Steelers don't want to be standing in front of the last domino. If anything, they'd much rather be the first team to strike a deal before the market climbs again.
Porter has become a cornerstone of the Steelers' secondary and is well worth the asking price. He erases an opponent's top receiving threat and completely changes the outlook of the defense. It isn't even close. Interceptions, or the lack thereof, are just one piece of the cornerback evaluation. Plenty of corners, including McCarthy's former standout Trevon Diggs, have posted gaudy interception totals while also giving up big plays. Porter, meanwhile, has allowed just one touchdown over his first two NFL seasons.
Ward's contract extension certainly impacts these negotiations. However, its effect will pale in comparison to what could happen if the Steelers fail to reach a deal before the other two 2023 draft-class cornerbacks sign their extensions.
