Joey Porter Jr.'s contract talks remain one of the Pittsburgh Steelers' biggest offseason priorities, but one NFL insider doesn't see the team making the kind of financial commitment some fans have suggested.

According to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette fan chat, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo responded after a fan suggested Porter could receive $87 million in guaranteed money as part of his next contract.

"Guaranteeing $87 million (basically 3 years) will not happen. They might have to go over $40 million in guaranteed money, but they won't approach what you suggest,” Fittipaldo wrote during the publication's fan chat.

Fittipaldo's comments also line up with how Pittsburgh has handled contracts for years, as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The discussion comes with the former second-round pick entering extension talks following another productive season. However, thus far in his three years, he has only managed three interceptions.

The Steelers rarely hand out large guarantees on long-term extensions, even to key players, making an $87 million guarantee seem unlikely.

One such exception was when they reset the market for T. J. Watt with a record-breaking $123 million extension before doubling down on the future by locking up rising star Nick Herbig on a $100 million deal.

Porter has still earned a new deal with his play. He finished the 2025 season with 52 tackles, one sack, and one interception while continuing to grow into the Steelers' top cornerback.

The discussion doesn't end with contract structure, though. Another recent development may have strengthened Pittsburgh's position at the negotiating table.

Why ESPN's latest ranking could matter

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Porter narrowly missed the top 10 in this year's NFL cornerback rankings after voting from league executives, coaches, and scouts.

Porter landed in the honorable mention category instead of making the list of the NFL's top cornerbacks.

That ranking could matter. Reports have linked Porter to a deal near the top of the cornerback market, while the Steelers reportedly value him closer to $20 million per year.

If league evaluators don't currently place him among the top 10 at his position, the Steelers have another point they can reference during negotiations.

"He takes all the stress off the pass defense. He matches the best receiver in man coverage, and teams roll away from him in zone,”  the coach told ESPN

The praise highlights how important Porter has become to Pittsburgh's defense, even without a top-10 ranking.

Training camp is getting closer, but a deal doesn't appear to be close. Fittipaldo believes both sides may have to adjust their expectations before an extension gets done.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote