With no contract extension and seemingly no progress towards a long-term deal, NFL teams are wondering if CB Joey Porter Jr. could be traded instead of extended. Per insider Jordan Schultz, teams are considering Porter a potential trade target.

#Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. is a name multiple teams around the NFL have wondered about as a potential trade target, per sources. JPJ is in the final year of his rookie contract, and with where the CB market is, teams have wondered if Pittsburgh could ultimately be open to a move with the Pro Bowl caliber corner,” he tweeted Thursday night.

Schultz’s tweet offers plenty of qualifiers and caution. His commentary doesn’t even broach the idea of teams actively calling the Steelers about Porter’s availability, much less Pittsburgh’s interest in dealing him. It appears to be speculation from the outside as the cornerback market heats up and as Porter and the Steelers haven’t made much progress towards a new deal, per reports.

The PPG’s Gerry Dulac has consistently reported the Steelers don’t view Porter as a true top-of-market cornerback. With Devon Witherspoon and Trent McDuffie securing $30 million-plus per year contracts this offseason, Porter’s camp is likely aiming to join the club.

Such a deal would also open the door to receive guaranteed money past the first year, another complicated factor to an extension not present in the long-term deals of EDGE Nick Herbig, DL Keeanu Benton, or TE Darnell Washington. However, at different points, Dulac has also expressed confidence a deal would get done at some point. The Steelers have a self-imposed deadlines of ending contract negotiations once the regular season begins. This year, that date is September 13.

Porter has missed the entire summer with a back injury and remains on Active/PUP. Many have inferred Porter’s injury as an excuse to avoid practicing until he receives a long-term deal. Dulac also indicated the Steelers’ coaching staff was unhappy about Porter missing spring OTAs. Asante Samuel Jr. has shined in his absence and played well this summer. He’s also set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. Pittsburgh also drafted Daylen Everette in the third round of April’s draft.

If trade talks picked up, it’s likely Pittsburgh would allow the inquiring team to speak with Porter’s agent, Andre Odom, to discuss the parameters of a long-term deal. Even on an expiring contract, Porter would bring back a healthy trade return as one of the league’s better young cornerbacks.

Khan has been eager to secure top names of his 2023 draft class, the first group he had as Pittsburgh’s general manager. But teams are wondering if Porter will be left without a contract, and if so, whether or not Pittsburgh is willing to make a deal.