Steelers GM says team will not negotiate extension with Joey Porter Jr. during season
General manager Omar Khan confirmed the Pittsburgh Steelers will not break their policy of avoiding in-season contract talks with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., while expressing a desire for him to remain with the club long-term.
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. understands the organization’s stance toward him, but the team will not deviate from its long-standing rule of not negotiating contract extensions during the season. Khan declined to discuss the specifics of any ongoing talks, noting that Porter is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract signed after being selected in the second round of the 2023 draft. He reiterated that the Steelers hope Porter will spend the remainder of his career in Pittsburgh.
Porter, 26, posted his strongest statistical season, allowing a career-low 333 yards when targeted, surrendering no touchdowns, and breaking up 14 passes while limiting penalties to six. He was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday after a back issue surfaced during a mobility test at the start of training camp.
The cornerback market remains active, with recent high-profile negotiations involving Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon and New England’s Christian Gonzalez. While Porter’s three interceptions over three seasons may not yet place him among the league’s top-paid defensive backs, his performance and local roots—having grown up in Pittsburgh while his father, former Steelers player and coach Joey Porter Sr., was with the team—keep him on the radar for future contract discussions.