The Pittsburgh Steelers reported to training camp on Tuesday, and news broke that Joey Porter Jr. is expected to begin camp on the PUP list. However, the bigger question is how, if at all, the designation could affect contract negotiations between Porter and the Steelers. One local insider shared his thoughts on why talks have dragged on, and his comments may also provide some insight into the PUP designation.
Gerry Dulac appeared on Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) and explained why he believes negotiations have stalled.
"I do not think that the Steelers believe Joey Porter is a top-five cornerback like some people want to suggest and that he's going to set the market. That's just not true." Dulac said.
If Dulac's assessment is accurate, the PUP designation becomes far less concerning in the context of negotiations. In fact, it may be exactly what both sides expected.
PUP designation may be more tactical than anything
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Porter and the Steelers could simply be using the PUP list as a way to keep him healthy while contract negotiations continue. Porter was always expected to report to camp, but it wasn't clear whether he would participate in a hold-in. Functionally, this accomplishes the same goal. Porter remains with the team, supports his teammates, and avoids unnecessary injury risk while his agent works through negotiations. McCarthy told the media Wednesday that the PUP list is due to a minor back flare up during conditioning testing.
Realistically, the PUP designation shouldn't have any meaningful impact on contract talks. At most, it's another negotiating tactic.
During the same SNR appearance, Dulac said he still believes the two sides will eventually reach an agreement. That's been the prevailing expectation throughout the offseason. There's still plenty of time to get a deal done, but the clock is ticking, and other teams could significantly influence these negotiations.
Steelers could be racing against other teams' timelines
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More than likely, the first domino to fall will be one of the three standout cornerbacks from the 2023 draft class. Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez, and Porter are all in line for new contracts. Whichever player signs first could reset the market and trigger a chain reaction. That would only increase the asking price for the last player to reach an agreement, something the Steelers should try to avoid.
It's understandable if Pittsburgh wants to see how the other negotiations unfold. However, at what point does waiting become too expensive? The Steelers should approach these talks as a race against the clock. Not only to beat their own regular-season deadline but also to avoid paying an even higher price if the cornerback market continues to climb.
