The Detroit Lions have a major weakness at cornerback heading into week one, but a new player entered the mix this week as a possible solution. Pittsburgh Steelers star CB Joey Porter Jr. is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the two parties have yet to agree on a new deal.
At practice Tuesday, Porter said he wasn't sure if he would play without an extension in place.
"I don't know. I have to talk to the guys upstairs and my agents about that one," he said.
If he decides to hold out, the Steelers could look at their options for a trade.
Why the Lions should try to land Joey Porter Jr.
The Steelers drafted Porter with the last pick of the second round in the 2023 draft, and he has strong family ties to the organization. His father, Joey Porter Sr., spent eight seasons as a linebacker in Pittsburgh and helped win its fifth title at Super Bowl XL. It was his final game for the steel city, and it happened to be at Ford Field in Detroit. 20 years later, the Lions have a chance to bring his son back to the motor city.
Porter has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league since he stepped on the scene. Per NextGen Stats (NGS), he hasn't allowed a touchdown since week eight of his rookie season - 1,467 consecutive snaps - marking the longest streak of any cornerback in the NGS era.
In 2025, Porter allowed a passer rating of 62.3, and the closest comparison on the Lions was Avonte Maddox at 72.9. Porter also played more than twice as many snaps as Maddox (NGS). With Brian Branch injured, Maddox is set to replace him at safety, only amplifying the weakness at cornerback.
In terms of his fit with Detroit's culture, it could be a perfect match. Porter has grit in spades, and the Steelers are similar to the Lions in that they play for blue-collar cities. Given he was raised by a Steelers legend, Porter has football in his blood, and he's used to being around hard workers.
Last season, Porter played 850 snaps on defense, which was more than any Lions DB. Additionally, he hasn't played less than 14 games in a season since he entered the league. In other words, he has the best ability: availability.
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At 26 years old, Porter could still have his best ball ahead of him. Elite cornerbacks are seldom traded around their prime, and it usually takes a haul to acquire them. Historically, trades involving Champ Bailey and Darrelle Revis come to mind for comparisons, although Porter isn't quite at their levels.
More recently, the Los Angeles Rams traded for all-pro cornerback Trent McDuffie last offseason. The Rams had to give the Kansas City Chiefs four draft picks, including the 29th overall pick in the 2026 draft. A first or second-round pick would almost certainly be part of the asking price for Porter, but given the Lions' history of drafting cornerbacks, they shouldn't have an issue with that. After all, Detroit has wasted countless picks on defensive backs over the past two decades or so.
Of course, Porter is CB1 in Pittsburgh, but with little hope for a super bowl in the near future, it could be enough to at least listen to offers. The Steelers have a tradition of not negotiating contracts during the season, and they don't seem willing to change it.
Last season, the Steelers went down to the wire with defensive tackle Cameron Heyward before ultimately signing him to a new deal. Former running back Le'Veon Bell sat out the entire 2018 season after refusing to sign a franchise tag for Pittsburgh, and he never played in the black and gold again.
The Steelers have already extended three other members of Porter's draft class, so it would be understandable for him to be frustrated. If he doesn't receive an offer he likes, or doesn't receive one at all, he could request to be traded. Although, since he is still under contract for 2026, Pittsburgh wouldn't have to honor it.
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