Joey Porter Jr. has blossomed into one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL. As he's entering the final year of his rookie contract, he's also a candidate for a contract extension. And with the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Porter did not participate in drills in which the media was allowed to shoot video and take pictures.
At the same time, Porter did not want to call anything he did on Tuesday an official "hold-in" over contract negotiations.
"I want to be out there. Everybody know I want to be out there," Porter said after Tuesday's minicamp session. "I'm going to do everything I can and take it day by day."
Porter, 25, is navigating a negotiation over an extension for the first time in his career, and it happens to come at the best time for him. He took a huge leap forward in his game last season, he finishing in the top 10 of cornerbacks with at least 300 coverage snaps in passes defensed, catch rate allowed, forced incompletion rate, passer rating against and receiving yards against. Porter also has the longest active streak in the NFL, spanning 1,467 snaps, of not allowing a touchdown.
Porter said he's allowing his agents and the Steelers' front office to handle the negotiations, but feels he's due to be compensated as an elite player.
"Definitely, I feel like I've been an elite guy since I've been in this league," Porter said. "I'm happy that I'm getting the respect I feel like I'm owed."
While Porter is seeking a hefty pay increase, he also understands the football side of things, as well. With a whole new coaching staff and whole new scheme under head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Porter has a lot to learn. That's why he's been in attendance throughout the offseason program, whether or not he's participating in drills.
"It's a new start, it's a new beginning," Porter said. "We got new coaches, we got new players coming in. I just want to be around the guys as much as possible and just to help as much as I can right now."
This will definitely be a story to monitor throughout the summer. Porter's performance in 2025 puts him in line to get a big contract extension. In 2025, Derek Stingley Jr. received a contract worth $30 million annually and Jaycee Horn received $25 million per year. Earlier this offseason, the Rams signed Trent McDuffie to a four-year, $124 million contract ($31 million per season) with $100 million guaranteed.
THE ASYLUM
Minicamp: Porter sits out during drills
Joey Porter Jr. has blossomed into one of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL. As he's entering the final year of his rookie contract, he's also a candidate for a contract extension. And with the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Porter did not participate in drills in which the media was allowed to shoot video and take pictures.
At the same time, Porter did not want to call anything he did on Tuesday an official "hold-in" over contract negotiations.
"I want to be out there. Everybody know I want to be out there," Porter said after Tuesday's minicamp session. "I'm going to do everything I can and take it day by day."
Porter, 25, is navigating a negotiation over an extension for the first time in his career, and it happens to come at the best time for him. He took a huge leap forward in his game last season, he finishing in the top 10 of cornerbacks with at least 300 coverage snaps in passes defensed, catch rate allowed, forced incompletion rate, passer rating against and receiving yards against. Porter also has the longest active streak in the NFL, spanning 1,467 snaps, of not allowing a touchdown.
Porter said he's allowing his agents and the Steelers' front office to handle the negotiations, but feels he's due to be compensated as an elite player.
"Definitely, I feel like I've been an elite guy since I've been in this league," Porter said. "I'm happy that I'm getting the respect I feel like I'm owed."
While Porter is seeking a hefty pay increase, he also understands the football side of things, as well. With a whole new coaching staff and whole new scheme under head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Porter has a lot to learn. That's why he's been in attendance throughout the offseason program, whether or not he's participating in drills.
"It's a new start, it's a new beginning," Porter said. "We got new coaches, we got new players coming in. I just want to be around the guys as much as possible and just to help as much as I can right now."
This will definitely be a story to monitor throughout the summer. Porter's performance in 2025 puts him in line to get a big contract extension. In 2025, Derek Stingley Jr. received a contract worth $30 million annually and Jaycee Horn received $25 million per year. Earlier this offseason, the Rams signed Trent McDuffie to a four-year, $124 million contract ($31 million per season) with $100 million guaranteed.
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