Spotrac has become one of the most trusted resources in sports contract coverage over the last two decades, but its market valuation for Joey Porter Jr. doesn’t come close to matching the reality of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ situation.

Porter’s heading into the final year of his rookie contract, which paid him just shy of $10 million total. He was also a hold-in at minicamp last week while extension talks continue, so this isn’t some distant issue for Pittsburgh.

That’s why Spotrac’s projected value of three years, $41.5 million, with a $13.8 million annual average, feels laughable. Their system compared Porter to Zyon McCollum, Montaric Brown, Kyler Gordon, and Cordale Flott. That group might make sense from a formula standpoint, but it doesn’t match how Porter is viewed around the league or inside Pittsburgh’s defense.

Porter is expected to want money closer to the top of the cornerback market.

Over three seasons, Porter has 165 tackles, 31 passes defensed, three interceptions, and one sack. He’s become Pittsburgh’s top outside corner and one of the team’s most important young defensive players. That doesn’t mean he’ll reset the market, but it does mean $13.8 million per year isn’t a serious starting point.

The Steelers also need this settled quickly.

A hold-in during minicamp was manageable. A hold-in that stretches deep into training camp could become a nightmare. Porter has played in a defense with Teryl Austin calling the plays since his rookie season. Now, he’s learning an entirely new scheme, and those camp reps matter.

That’s especially true for a corner who could be asked to handle different coverage rules, zone responsibilities, communication points, and assignments than the ones he’s grown used to in Pittsburgh.

The market already shifted when Patrick Surtain II reached $24 million per year in 2024. Derek Stingley Jr. pushed it higher at $30 million, and Jaycee Horn and Sauce Gardner helped keep the top moving.

Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon are now waiting in the wings for their extensions. If their deals land in the mid-30s, Porter’s number climbs, too.

That’s the problem for the Steelers. They just extended Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington, with Keeanu Benton also in line. Porter’s deal won’t be cheap, and Spotrac’s projection undersells that badly.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Joey Porter Jr. market value misses badly for Steelers