Tag Archives: Joey Porter Jr.

The Game Within the Game: Dissecting the Steelers 27-24 Loss to the Browns on TNF

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Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season saw the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Cleveland and drop a 27-24 decision to the Browns on Thursday Night Football.

Judging by the reaction from Steelers Nation on social media, the 2026 Steelers are officially the worst 2-2 team in the history of organized athletics (including, it would seem, team competitions from the ancient Olympics.)

However, with the benefit of a little time and detached reflection, one can see that the loss did yield a lot of insights about this Steelers squad, especially if you focus on the game within the game.

An animated T.J. Watt gets on the headset with Patrick Graham.

An animated T.J. Watt gets on the headset with Patrick Graham. Photo Credit: NFL on Amazon Prime.

Steelers Follow Tormented Template for Thursday Night AFC North Road Games

Thursday Night division road games have been terrible for the Steelers. Neither Chuck Noll, nor Bill Cowher, nor Mike Tomlin won one. Neither has Mike McCarthy, but his team did follow the same template that Tomlin laid down on a Thursday Night a year ago against the Bengals in the opposite corner of Ohio.

Both games saw the Steelers begin by scoring touchdowns on opening drives. Both saw the Steelers defense force fast punts on their Ohio opponent’s first possessions. In both games, the Steelers maintained control, until an untimely Aaron Rodgers interception flipped the momentum to the Ohio team.

And there, on both occasions, Pittsburgh’s opponents savaged a once-proud defense, with attacks on the ground followed by freely flowing passes downfield.

  • On both October nights, the Steelers offense fought back.

As he did in Cincinnati last year, Aaron Rodgers again in Cleveland would lead twin 4th quarter touchdown drives, culminating with touchdown passes to Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington.

Pat Freiermuth, Jordan Battle, Steelers vs Bengals, Steelers vs Bengals TNF

Pat Freiermuth stiff arms Jordan Battle en route to the end zone. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

And, on both occasions, fans twirled their Terrible Towels celebrating Freiermuth’s touchdown while silently asking themselves – “Did Aaron Rodgers leave too much time on the clock?”

To that end, perhaps the Bengals and Browns should retaliate for “Renegade” by starting to play Styx’s “Too Much Time on Your Hands” during 4th quarter TV time outs, because both games ended with the Steelers offense leaving too much time on the clock for defenses incapable of making stops.

  • The similarities between these twin AFC North Thursday Night road losses are uncanny indeed.

But there are important differences in the dynamics of how both contest evolved, and those differences are where we can find insights.

The Game within The Game: On the Field, the Ugly Side

Here are two factoids that contradict each other while both being true:

  • If you take out the second quarter, the Steelers win 24 to 6
  • But that 2nd period is a candidate for the “worst quarter” in Steelers history

And that’s what makes this game so fascinating. The Steelers opened with a 17-play, nine-minute and 48-second drive that ended with a Roman Wilson rushing touchdown. The Steelers ran six times with Jaylen Warren getting five carries, while Aaron Rodgers hit four different receivers.

  • That’s the kind of ball-control football that would have given Ron Erhardt a wet dream.

While Steelers history buffs will appreciate that, what that opening drive reveals is that Mike McCarthy and his staff did an extremely good job of scripting their opening set of plays.

Roman Wilson runs in a touchdown to put the Steelers up 7-0 against the Browns on Thursday Night Football.

Roman Wilson runs in a 1st quarter touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The same can be said for Patrick Graham’s defense, which limited the Browns to 9 plays and under 30 yards on their first two drives.

Really it looked like McCarthy was en route to cracking the code to winning on TNF…

…Until Aaron Rodgers threw a pick. Then, the bottom feel out on the Steelers across the board:

  • The offensive line failed to protect Rodgers
  • When it did, the receivers couldn’t gain separation, so Rodgers got sacked anyway
  • When receivers did get open, Rodgers misfired, often badly
  • Tackling became an optional duty for Steelers defenders
  • The secondary struggled to cover the Browns’ receivers
  • Chris Boswell missed a field goal

About the only thing going right for the Steelers was Jaylen Warren’s running and Cameron Johnston’s punting.

The Game Within the Game: On the Field, the Sunny Side

Anytime you give up 21 unanswered points in a quarter, things are going bad. Truth be told, some of the weakness the Browns exposed can be fixed, others may be systemic.

The Steelers had to swallow a bitter pill and ship Joey Porter Jr. off to Dallas, but there’s no universe where their secondary is better for the change. Unless Daylen Everette’s baptism by fire transforms him into the next Rod Woodson, there’s little the Steelers can do to address that until next spring.

But some of the things that the Steelers flashed in-game give reason for hope. Take a second look at the third and fourth quarters and you’ll see Mike McCarthy, his staff and players making adjustments in real time:

  • The offensive line improved, protecting Rodgers better.
  • Either through improved play-calling or  execution, the receivers finally gained separation in the 4th quarter
  • D.K. Metcalf delivered when his number was called
  • Patrick Graham’s defense kept the Browns out of the end zone in the 2nd half
  • Robert Spears-Jennings secured a momentum-shifting interception
  • The run blocking of the offensive line was borderline exceptional

Anyone who is unconvinced on the last point should re-watch Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick outmuscling the opposing defensive tackles on Aaron Rodgers’ QB sneak.

Likewise, those tempted to hit the panic button over Patrick Graham’s defense should also take into consideration that he made those adjustments sans starting cornerback Jamel Dean and Derrick Harmon.

But those adjustments weren’t sufficient for the Steelers to secure victory. That brings us to the game within the game off the field.

The Game within the Game: Off the Field = McCarthy’s Challenge

The Steelers’ loss to the Browns on Thursday Night Football also featured something not seen in last year’s in the TNF loss to the Bengals and seldom seen before.

  • The quarterback and head coach exchanging F-bombs
  • T.J. Watt demanding the headset for a heated exchange with his coordinator
  • Cam Heyward reading the riot act to the rest of the defense

There are two directions this dynamic can evolve. It can mark the moment when the veterans on the team raised their voices to straighten the ship. Or it can mark the moment where the coaching staff started losing control.

Mike McCarthy’s challenge coming out of the Browns game is to ensure this dynamic evolves constructively rather than destructively.

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What a Shame: Steelers Trade Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys

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The Pittsburgh Steelers will trade Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Dallas’ 6th round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and their 2nd Round Pick in the 2028 NFL Draft.

The move, while hardly surprising, remains incredibly disappointing.

Joey Porter Jr and Joey Porter Sr and Porter Jr. with Nico Collins

Joey Porter Jr.’s Steelers journey comes full circle, to a bitter end. Photo Credits: G. N. Lowrance, Getty Images; Houston Chronicle

How should Steelers fans make sense of this? In this case, three simple words we all learned as young children suffice:

What a shame.

Yes, it is a real shame for the organization, for Joey Porter Jr., for the fans, for everyone.

  • The Steelers defense clearly needs Porter: Now they won’t have him.
  • Joey Porter Jr. wanted a long term deal: Now he’ll play in Dallas, without one.

No matter how you slice it, no matter whose side you’re on, regardless of who you consider to be “at fault,” this situation has ended badly.

A narrative that was shaping up to be something that Disney itself couldn’t have scripted better has instead taken on the feel of a poorly executed B-level reboot of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

One of the enduring images from Super Bowl XL is that of Joey Porter Jr. sitting on the arm of his father Joey Porter Sr. That’s where Joey Porter Jr.’s story with the Pittsburgh Steelers began.

But its roots run far deeper. Porter worked as a ballboy. Apparently he drilled, at some level, against Antonio Brown in training camp. He played in school with Mike Tomlin’s kids. He went to Penn State. He was drafted with the 32nd pick, a second rounder that Omar Khan had swindled out of Chicago in the Chase Claypool trade.

Arriving in Pittsburgh, he took on Number 24, the number worn by  “Uncle Ike,” or Ike Taylor who made the game-changing play in Super Bowl XL.

Porter’s first interception came courtesy of Lamar Jackson, in the end zone no less, and sparked an improbable comeback victory over the Ravens. (Yes, Kenny Pickett left Pittsburgh and remains “undefeated” against Lamar Jackson – there’s a factoid to stock up on for Final Jeopardy.)

Joey Porter Jr., Steelers vs Ravens

Joey Porter Jr. gets his first interception. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Porter had a strong rookie year. It is probably fair to say that he didn’t quite make the proverbial “second year leap” in 2024. But it is even more accurate to say that he did make a significant leap in year 3. No, Porter hadn’t established himself as a true, “shut down corner” but he was heading in that trajectory.

  • For the Steelers, this was a dream come true.

When you think of defensive backs drafted by the Steelers in this century, names like Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and maybe even Big Play Willie Gay come to mind. So they should.

But other monikers, we forget. Names like Hank Poteat, Ricardo Colclough, Cortez Allen, Shamarko Thomas, Senquez Golson and Terrell Edmunds.

Joey Porter Jr. was the antidote to those misses. Finally, after so many misfires, the Steelers had drafted and developed a cornerback and were about to see him bud into his prime.

Alas, that’s all been reduced to a 6th round pick next spring and a 2nd found pick two springs after that.

Who to Blame for the Joey Porter Jr. Fiasco?

Focusing on blame is something I try to avoid going through life. It is seldom productive and often a corrosive endeavor. But the Joey Porter Jr. fiasco did not need to end this way.

  • As with most situations, both sides share responsibility.

For their part, the Steelers never should have declared him injured if he in fact was healthy. If Mike McCarthy wanted to end the policy of allowing “hold ins” – as is his right as head coach – that should have been crystal clear from the beginning.

But the lion’s share of the responsibly falls on Joey Porter Jr.’s shoulders.

  • By all accounts, the Steelers made him a fair offer.
  • If Joey Porter Jr. didn’t want to accept it and bet on himself, he had the right.

But then he needed to follow through and prove that he deserved to be paid what he thought he was worth by playing through the final year of his contract.

  • That’s how the dynamic of negotiations with 3rd year players works.

The team offers him a deal, usually a little less than the player would command on the open market, and the player gets his money a year earlier and reduces his injury risk.

Most often it works out as a win-win situation – see Hines Ward whom the Steelers re-signed before the 2001 season. Other times, it backfires on the team – see Cortez Allen’s second contract.

Hines Ward, Steeles vs Ravens, 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs, first playoff game Heinz Field

Hines Ward flexes his muscles in the playoffs against the Ravens. The Steelers were back!. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

If Porter was dead set on opting out of this dynamic, only playing if and when he got a new contract, they he should have stated that from the get-go.

Instead, he feigned injury, as confirmed by is comments that he hopes to suit up for the Cowboys this Sunday.

That’s the adult equivalent of shaking the thermometer to make it look like you’ve got a fever of 99 degrees so that mom will let you stay home from school on Friday, and then turning around and saying “Hey mom, I’m feeling better. Can I go to the dance tonight?”

In the end, the Steelers really are accepting the short end of the stick by taking a 2nd-round 2028 and a 6th-round 2027 in exchange for Porter.

But moving on from Porter is the best choice they could make at this point, even if it is a bad one. It is far, far better than watching Art Rooney II becoming the NFL equivalent of Ferris Bueller’s nemesis Edward “Ed” Rooney.

What a shame.

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Is There Solution to Sloppy September Football? Maybe, Maybe Not….

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Steelers scribes can use lots of adjectives to describe McCarthy’s inaugural win in Pittsburgh, but the one that best suits it is “sloppy” – a descriptor that applies to both teams.

D.K. Metcalf with one of several drops in the Steelers 2026 opening day win over the Falcons.

D.K. Metcalf drops another pass. Photo Credit: Matt Freed, Post-Gazette

Numbers don’t lie and they tell a disheveled tale:

  • The Steelers and Falcons combined to miss 3 field goals
  • Add one more “what was that?” botched field goal attempt
  • The Steelers and Falcons accepted a total of 13 penalties for over 150 yards
  • Aaron Rodgers targeted D.K. Metcalf 10 times and only came away with 4 catches
  • The Falcons and the Steelers went a cumulative 5 for 25 on third downs
  • For the record, the Steelers were 0 for 2 on fourth downs

OK. Those conversion stats present a double-edge sword, because the takeaway could easily be that the defense was playing exceptionally well. If you look at how Alex Highsmith ended Atlanta’s opening and closing drives with sacks, that conclusion has merit.

Mike McCarthy acknowledged the “herky jerky” nature of his offense and chalked the sloppiness up to “September football.” So be it. That’s now the norm in the NFL.

  • But the better question is:  Must it really be that way?

We know the reason: With each passing year, coaches play starters and even first-line backups less and less in preseason. And that has consequences, as Bob Labriola laid out about a year ago in “Asked and Answered.” Responding to a question about early season sloppiness, the Steelers Digest editor explained:

Once the regular season begins, a team doesn’t need to be a well-oiled machine to win games; it just needs to be better than that week’s particular opponent. Since no teams give significant playing time to their starters during the preseason, there are no well-oiled machines in the NFL in September. Or even into early October.

Two questions later, in the same chat, Labriola pointed to the goal of protecting starters from injuries, indicating that coaches will err on the side of keeping players healthy.

Fair enough.

The days of Chuck Noll using the final preseason game as his “dress rehearsal” where he’d play presumptive starters well into the 4th quarter are long gone.

Metcalf didn’t play a down in preseason and he had two egregious drops. Now, no one will ever confuse Metcalf’s pass-catching ability with Antonio Brown’s. But his 40% catch rate is 20 points below his career average. In this game, that translates to 2 catches. And one of Metcalf’s drops would have been a game changer.

  • It is tempting to wonder whether Metcalf would have been sharper with even a few preseason reps under his belt.

Couldn’t an enterprising coach create a competitive edge by finding a happy medium between playing starters just long enough to knock off the rust while keeping them healthy?

  • Maybe, maybe not.

We’ll likely never know the answer to the question.

The Steelers went into the game healthy, not counting DeShon Elliott and, er um, Joey Porter Jr., and came out of the game healthy. And the Steelers, while sloppy, were less sloppy than the Falcons.

So maybe it is OK that we’ll never learn the answer to the question.

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No More Keeping Up with The Joneses: Steelers Trade Broderick Jones to Dallas Cowboys

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Broderick Jones to the Dallas Cowboys, making their first critical roster decision with the NFL’s final 53 man roster cut down deadline looms.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the  Steelers are sending Jones along with their 2027 4th round pick to Dallas, and getting the Cowboys’ 2027 3rd and 6th round picks.

Broderick Jones

Broderick Jones decked out in color rush. Photo Credit: Karl Roser, Steelers.com

Broderick Jones was the first, first-round draft pick of the Omar Khan Andy Weidl era, whom Khan traded up for in the 2023 NFL Draft. When the Steelers drafted Jones, the decision was almost universally praised.

Writing in Steel City Insider, analyst Matt C. Steel lauded the class of 2023 as a “near-perfect draft.” He praised Jones for his “athleticism and physicality [that] are unique.” Steel further explained his enthusiasm for Jones:

Jones might struggle with pass protection early; however, with his strength and movement skills Jones’ impact on the run game should be significant. Couple that with the knowledge that [Christian] Gonzalez’s interviews were said to be uninspiring, moving up to get Jones was the best choice the Steelers could have made with their draft position.

Talk about a draft analyst being prophetic. The Steelers drafted Jones on measurables rather than experience, as Jones had not been a long-term starter in college and was seen as somewhat of a project.

While the Steelers didn’t start Jones on opening day 2023, he did crack the starting lineup in the middle of the season against Tennessee after Chukwuma Okorafor got benched. And with that move the Steelers running game finally began getting some traction.

  • However, Jones’ “sophomore” year was shaky at best.

As Steel predicted, he struggled in pass blocking and the Steelers running game got a slow start – although that was a trademark of Pat Meyer’s offensive lines. Left tackle had always been seen as Jones’ natural position and he played on the right during the Steelers 2024 season, in large part because Dan Moore could not make the switch from left tackle to right tackle.

The hope was that by shifting Jones would begin to fully realize his potential during the Steelers 2025 season. Nonetheless, outside of Pittsburgh Jim Wexell reported from the 2025 NFL scouting combine that Jones was perceived as a “coach killer.”

  • The reality is that results were mixed.

While Broderick Jones might not have been an early-season outright liability at left tackle, the Steelers pass protection left a lot to be desired.

Arthur Smith needed to tailor play calling sequences to ensure Aaron Rodgers got rid of the ball quickly. Smith also generously used his “Jumbo Package” bringing in reserve offensive lineman Spencer Anderson as a tight end.

Still, while no one would confuse him with a modern-day John Jackson or Marvel Smith, Jones did seem to improve as the season wore on. Unfortunately, he suffered a neck stinger in the Steelers loss to Chicago, ending his season.

  • Word was the Steelers would have issued Jones a 5th year tender had it not been for his neck injury.

Not only did they not do that, but they used their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on offensive tackle Max Iheanachor. With 2024’s first round pick Troy Fautanu already on the team, Jones’ days with the Steelers appeared to be limited.

  • The expectation was that he would begin training camp and the season on the PUP list.

Surprisingly, Jones was active through training camp, and got extensive work in all three of the Steelers 2026 preseason contests.

And that sealed his fate with the team, as Jones struggled in pass protection in all three contests, most notably getting beaten badly in the 4th quarter in the shutout loss to the Jets.

Although the Steelers deemed Jones physically fit to participate and play in camp, he was visibly smaller following his injury. So, there’s certainly a chance that his recovery can continue and that he can salvage something of his career.

But he won’t be doing it in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform, and Omar Khan has likely recouped more value with this trade than he could have hoped to get as a compensatory pick had he kept Jones in the Steel City.

Khan Continues to Embrace the “Fail Fast” Principle

Dispatching Jones to Dallas marks the second time that Omar Khan has dealt away a first-round draft pick who is playing on a rookie contract. The first time came when he sent Kenny Pickett down the Turnpike in 2024.

  • Clearly, Khan is not averse to embracing the “Fail Fast” principle.

Although Jones clearly qualifies as a disappointment, the Steelers 2023 Draft Class is shaping up to be a strong group. Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington and Keeanu Benton have already signed second contracts with Joey Porter Jr., hopefully, soon to get his. Spencer Anderson will also begin the year as a starter.

 

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5 (Not So) Random Takes from the Steelers 28-9 Preseason Win Over the Packers

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Mike McCarthy’s Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Green Bay Packers 28-9 to open their 2026 preseason campaign on a hot and steamy night at Acrisure Stadium.

The win gave fans their long-awaited look at quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar as well as wide receivers Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen along with cornerback Daylen Everette.

  • After watching a game chocked full of ESPN-worthy highlights, what are hard takeaways?

How about Mike McCarthy now has one more thing in common with Mike Tomlin than he does with Bill Cowher or Chuck Noll because McCarthy, like Tomlin, won his preseason debut whereas Cowher and Noll lost theirs….

Now that you’re prepared for a “Steelers Preseason” Final Jeopardy, let’s acknowledge that injuries are about the only hard truths that come out of the first preseason game of the summer. And fortunately the Steelers appeared to emerge relatively clean on that front.

But it was an exciting win, and it did leave commentators with a lot to comment on. So let’s comment.

Mason Rudolph evades Warren Brinson in the Steelers 2026 preseason opener vs the Packers.

Who doesn’t like a quarterback who knocks the helmet off of a defender? Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune Review.

1. Front and Center Focus Gives Us a Mixed Bag

The most important thing for the Steelers to get right this summer is to solidify their offensive line and strengthen their defensive spine.

  • The Packers game gave them their first test and results were mixed.

Pass protection was erratic. Mason Rudolph was only in for a handful of series and he was still sacked twice. Both Dylan Cook and Troy Fautanu got beat in critical snaps. The Steelers also averaged 2.6 yards on the ground, so the offensive line wasn’t exactly road-grading either.

Still, with that understood, the offensive line did give Rudolph enough protection to complete 10 of 11 passes and march the team to the one yard line.

On the flip side, the Steelers defense had a strong night overall, keeping the Packers out of the end zone for the entire game. Although Keeanu Benton got the start at nose tackle, both Yahya Black and Gabriel Rubio saw extended time and both men looked good, with Rubio logging six tackles.

2. Rudolph, Howard, Allar and the Quarterback Derby

Both Will Howard and Drew Allar made their NFL debuts and both men played very well.

Howard impressively ran the two-minute drill to set up Lew Nichols touchdown just before the end of the first half. Allar relieved him at the end of the third quarter, throwing two touchdown passes while running one in on his own.

Allar went 10 of 13 for 2 TDs and 163 yards with no sacks, while Howard went 10 of 11 for 93 yards and one sack. That’s about as good as anyone could have hoped for or expected.

But if you were to judge their performance by reactions on social media, you’d think the Steelers suddenly had a Joe Montana-Steve Young situation on their hands. OK, perhaps that exaggerates things slightly, but it is amazing to see the number of people who are ready to cut Mason Rudolph after watching Howard and Allar.

Yes, both Howard and Allar looked good, but they did most of their work playing against guys who, in a month’s time, will count themselves lucky if they land a tryout with the Brooklyn Pharaohs.

In contrast, the vast majority of the men Mason Rudolph played against will make the Packers’ opening day roster, and many will start. What really stuck out about Rudolph was his poise.

He didn’t have great pass protection, and Travis Homer wasn’t exactly “pounding the rock.” Yet he remained in command of the offense at all times to the point where his best pass of the night was officially an incomplete one:

Yes, we can and should be pleased to see Howard and Allar get off to good starts. But if Aaron Rodgers should become unavailable, this is the kind of quarterback I want taking his place.

3. Reclamation ROI in Real Time?

The Steelers defense put up a lot of stats, and several players made eye-catching plays. But the one man who really stood out was cornerback Asante Samuel Jr..

When Joey Porter Jr.’s hold-in began, someone on social media speculated that he might be in the process of Wally Pipping himself. That’s a bit extreme. But Asante Samuel Jr. played extremely well, and at this point looks to be a real asset in the secondary.

Rookie safety and 7th round draft pick Robert Spears-Jennings also looked good.

4. Wetjen Strikes Just When You Least Expect It

The only real eyebrow raising choice in the Steelers 2026 draft class was using a fourth-rounder on Kaden Wetjen. The Steelers drafted him as a kick returner, as he had a total of 13 catches in his college career.

And throughout training camp wise scribes such as Jim Wexell and Roy Countryman have been telling us that Wetjen’s been looking extremely sharp as a return man, but didn’t figure to be a factor in the passing game.

Against the Packers, Wetjen got to return 3 kicks and 2 punts and, while he didn’t do anything to look bad, he also did nothing special. No sooner did that thought occur to me than Drew Allar found him on this slant route:

  • Quite impressive, even if a stumble cost him a touchdown.

Yet, Allar found him later in the end zone, and the evening ended with Wetjen leading the Steelers in receiving yards and catching a touchdown.

Kaden Wetjet catches a touchdown from Drew Allar during the Steelers 2026 preseason win over the Packers

Kaden Wetjet catches a Drew Allar touchdown. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The odds favor Wetjet’s 79-yard streaking reception to be more of a Matthew Thomas type play (name ring a bell but can’t quite place this one? Then click here) than Franco Harris taking it to the house in his preseason debut, but he did show us that we shouldn’t sleep on him being a part of the wide receiving room.

5. A Word About the Offense

The Steelers offense scored four touchdowns, had 17 first downs, converted 7 of 13 third downs and had a slight edge in time of possession. The numbers alone, of course, in a preseason game tell us next to nothing.

  • But the unit passed “the eye test.”

In the heyday of Kenny Pickett’s preseason glory days the Steelers offense put together some nice drives, but they had a video game feel too them dissipated immediately once the games counted for real.

In the booth during the game Art Rooney II described Mike McCarthy as “meticulous” and this is how his offense felt. Even when you control for the quality of competition, the Steelers offense played like a unit that knew what it wanted to do, and was going out and doing it. And the maintained that same “look and feel” with three separate quarterbacks.

Finally, seeing rookie fullback Riley Nowakowski lining up in a Power-I Formation early in the game? That was a true cherry on top.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is only preseason. Let’s keep it real. But it’s far better to look good than to look bad.

 

 

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Nick Herbig Extension Shows Steelers Drafting Has Turned a Corner

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Omar Khan kicked off minicamp by opening his checkbook as the Steelers re-signed Nick Herbig to a 4-year contract extension worth a reported 100 million dollars including over 40 million in guaranteed money.

The immediate focus of Steelers Nation is if and how Herbig’s new deal impacts the futures of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, but the bigger picture behind Herbig’s extension is what it signals about the team’s direction.

Nick Herbig, Steelers vs Bengals

Nick Herbig strip sacks Joe Burrow. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Early Herbig Extension Signals End of Steelers Draft Drought

The Steelers drafted Nick Herbig in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s now entering the final year of his rookie contract, and Omar Khan opened the off season by listing Herbig as a player he wanted to re-sign before he reached free agency.

  • This is not something Steelers Nation is accustomed to — at least not in recent memory.

But once upon a time, things were different in Pittsburgh. In the spring of 1993, the NFL’s first year free agency, owners were tripping over themselves throwing money at players, trying to buy a Lombardi.

In Pittsburgh Dan Rooney and Tom Donahoe took a different approach, quietly extending players like Dermontti Dawson and Greg Lloyd who were entering the final years of their contracts.

  • That practice became standard Steelers operating procedure for the next two and a half decades.
  • But the maturation of the Steelers 2018 draft class marked a turning point.

Terrell Edmunds, Mason Rudolph, Chukwuma Okorafor, Diontae Johnson, Alex Highsmith and Pat Freiermuth were only the players from the Steelers 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 draft to get second contracts.

Alex Highsmith, Tom Brady, Steelers vs Buccaneers

Alex Highsmith strip sacks Tom Brady. Photo Credit: Barry Reeger, HJ News.com

Highsmith, Freiermuth, Johnson and Rudolph were the only ones to the Steelers re-signed while they were still playing on rookie contracts, and out of that group only Highsmith and Freiermuth got long-term starter deals.

In contrast, the Steelers have already re-signed Herbig, and want to ink new deals with Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton and perhaps Darnell Washington this summer.

  • Word is they would have given Broderick Jones his 5th year rookie tender had he not been hurt.

Barring injury or an unanticipated regression, Omar Khan will likely take a similar approach with several members of the Steelers 2024 Draft class next spring.

The Steelers playoff drought started with the loss to the Patriots in the 2017 AFC Championship game. Their quality of their drafts dipped precipitously starting in 2018 and continued through the rest of Kevin Colbert’s tenure.

  • But Herbig’s early extension shows that the Steelers draft drought is over.

The Steelers not only have a draft pick going into his 4th year who is worthy of a long-term extension, hopefully Herbig is the first of many.

Let’s hope that Herbig and the rest of his draft class make some playoff rain with Mike McCarthy.

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Steelers Extend Chris Boswell’s Contract, Cut Cory Trice Revealing Wicked Role Injuries Play in NFL

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What at first glance appear to be two routine roster moves by Omar Khan actually shed a lot of light on the NFL’s darker side.

Coming out of rookie mini-camp, the Steelers made two moves: They extended Chris Boswell’s contract through 2030, and they cut cornerback Cory Trice.

While neither move is surprising, both reveal the wicked role injuries play in a player’s success or failure when he rides the NFL roulette wheel.

Chris Boswell, kicks 6 field goals in the Steelers 2024 opener vs the Falcons. Cory Trice carted off with an Injury at St. Vincents in the summer of 2025.

Chris Boswell kicking 1 of 6 field goals. Cory Trice injured at St. Vincents. Photo Credits: AP via Tribune-Review; Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Taken at face value, a glance at Boswell and Trice’s stat sheets suggests that you’re simply looking at two Pittsburgh Steelers players on the opposite ends of the NFL’s bell curve of career trajectories.

  • Chris Boswell has played for 11 years in 167 games and scored 1250 points.
  • Cory Trice has been on an NFL roster for 3 seasons, appeared in 6 games, making one start

There you have it ladies and gentleman — see for yourself ultimate meritocracy that is the NFL in action. The truly great players endure to play in hundreds of games, while others who can’t crack double digits are discarded as below average.

That is true, to a degree. About 40% of the players who begin the summer at St. Vincents won’t be on the opening day roster. Each summer, the cycle renews itself.

But merely looking at the number ignores the role that injuries play in swaying the NFL’s hand of fate.

  • Boswell and Trice’s experiences drive that point home.

The Steelers drafted Cory Trice in the 7th round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Injuries were the reason why he fell to the 7th round. Still, immediately after the draft, Jim Wexell waxed about the prospect of Trice tandeming with Joey Porter Jr.

That dream got delayed by a season as Trice tore his ACL in his rookie training camp. His second year he not only made the 53 man roster, but started the Steelers 2024 week 2 road win over the Broncos, and made an end zone interception in what was a 13-6 win for Pittsburgh.

 

The following week against the Chargers he lasted all of 3 snaps, and was out until the week 16 road loss to the Ravens. He got injured in camp again in the summer of 2025, healed enough to have his practice window opened, but got hurt again and finished the year where he started it – on injured reserve.

After having him spend 45 of 51 games in injured reserve, the Steelers waived Trice with a failed physical designation.

  • Cory Trice may get another shot with a new team, but his NFL dream is on borrowed time.

In contrast, Chris Boswell inked a 4-year contract extension for a reported 28 million dollars. Even if he doesn’t play out the entire length of that contract, he’ll almost certainly break the Steelers all-time scoring record.

Boswell’s field goal percentage may “only” rank 5th among active kickers, but half of his kicks come at Acrisure Stadium one of the NFL’s most difficult venues.

  • But Boswell didn’t get where he is on merit alone.

He joined the Steelers in 2015. Shaun Suisham began the summer as the Steelers kicker. But he got hurt during the Hall of Fame Game. So Kevin Colbert signed Garrett Hartley. Then Hartley got hurt. So Colbert traded for Josh Scobe. Scobe was OK. Until the Steelers lost on the road to the Ravens due in no small part to missed kicks , and then not so much.

Mike Tomlin let him go. Scobe’s agent leaked news of an injury. Maybe it was true, maybe it was made up.

  • Either way neither Suisham, nor Hartley, nor Scobe ever kicked another ball in an NFL game.

Their injuries opened the door for Chris Boswell to make 1570 kicks in the NFL and counting, not including his one punt.

  • Yes, injuries are as much a part of football as blocking and tackling.

They stop promising careers from one moment to the next, think Ryan Shazier. Other times they grind good players down, think Aaron Smith. Sometimes they end careers before they start, think Senquez Golson and now fellow cornerback Cory Trice.

  • But for as harsh as that reality is, injuries also open doors for players such as Chris Boswell.

Here’s to wishing Chris Boswell success – and health – as he plays through his latest contract with the Steelers, and here’s to wishing Cory Trice better luck — and health — in either his next NFL stop – or his “Life’s Work.”

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Steelers Draft Daylen Everette, Cornerback Georgia, in 3rd Round of 2026 NFL Draft

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The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Daylen Everette with their second third round pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Daylen Everette intercepts a pass against the Texas Longhorns

Steelers 2026 3rd round pick Daylen Everette intercepts a pass for the Georgia Bulldogs.

In drafting a cornerback, Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy leapfrogged inside linebacker on the Steelers 2026 Draft Needs Matrix and addressed the roster’s 5th most urgent area of need. The move pivoted Pittsburgh to defense, after addressing offense with the picks of Max Iheanachor, Germie Bernard and Drew Allar in the first 3 rounds of the draft.

Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham endorsed Everette’s physical attributes, and praised, “The seriousness he has about football, the focus he has as a young man. I was really impressed by that. And you could just tell there’s some grit there about him and a willingness to get better.”

Steel City Insider’s Roy Countryman listed Everette has the top corner on his third round value board.

Watch Daylen Everette Highlights: Steelers 2026 3rd Round Draft Pick

Over the last three years Everette started 41 games for the Georgia Bulldogs, pulling down 5 interceptions and batting away 20 passes. By all accounts his tackling improved, which boosted his draft status.

Everette told Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell that he played press man coverage on “maybe 80, 85 percent of my snaps.” If the video above is indicative of his ability, he was quite effective at it.

How Daylen Everette Fits in the Steelers Secondary Depth Chart

As a 3rd round pick Daylen Everette won’t need to fight for a roster spot, but finding playing time could be a challenge, assuming Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean and Brandin Echols stay healthy, they should see the bulk of the work at cornerback, with Jalen Ramsey rotating in as a chess piece.

That being the case, special teams is likely Everette’s ticket to getting playing time, although Patrick Graham reminded reporters that “There’s no depth chart right now. It’s open audition for ballhawks.”

Welcome to Steelers Nation Daylen Everette.

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Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Cornerback: Strong Today, But Long-Term Thinking Needed

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True or False: Since Super Bowl XLV, cornerback has always been a need for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL Draft.

The correct answer is “False.” But it is true that since Aaron Rodgers hung 304 yards, threw for 3 touchdowns and walked away with a 111.5 passer rating against the Steelers’ secondary in Super Bowl XLV, cornerback has been a major draft need for Pittsburgh more often than not.

The draft is coming to Pittsburgh, literally in less than a week so the question is, how big of a need is cornerback for the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft?

This is the latest article in our Steelers 2026 Draft series.

Asaunte Samuel Jr., Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey celebrate after the Steelers December 2025 win over the Detroit Lions.

Asante Samuel Jr., Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey celebrate after beating the Lions. Photo Credit: Ryan Sun, AP via the Times-Observer

The Steelers Cornerback Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Starters

“Bloodlines are important to Mike Tomlin,” Steel City Insider’s Jim Wexell loved to remind readers during the latter part of the Tomlin era. Tomlin’s love for bloodlines got the Steelers in trouble with picks like Terrell Edmunds and Devin Bush Jr., but the opposite happened with Joey Porter Jr..

Joey Porter Jr. is of course the son of Steelers legendary linebacker Joey Porter Sr. and the Steelers drafted him in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL draft, making him the 2nd pick of the Khan-Weidl regime.

Joey Porter Jr., Steelers vs Ravens

Joey Porter Jr. gets his first interception. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Joey Porter Jr. won the starting job immediately, and began making a name for himself almost instantly when Lamar Jackson tried to pick on him only to have Porter intercept him in the end zone, negating a Baltimore score and paving the way for a Steelers upset.

Since then Porter Jr. has grown into his role. In his second year Porter began regularly shadowing opponents’ top receivers and you didn’t hear Porter’s name much – which is often a good thing to say about a cornerback.

In his third year Porter managed to reduce his pass interference penalties, and he won All Pro honors while allowing just a 56.2 passer rating in coverage, deflecting 11 passes, and giving up completions less than 50% of the time when targeted per Jacob Infante of PFSN.

Omar Khan has already confirmed that the Steelers would like to extend Joey Porter Jr. this summer.

When the Steelers ended the season with James Pierre starting at cornerback, they opted to let him walk and sign Jamel Dean in free agency, considered by many to be the best available corner in the market.

Jamel Dean is a 7-year veteran with 77 starts to his name. Per Pro Football reference, like Porter Jr. Dean only allowed 49% of pass thrown his way to be completed, and gave up a 63.1 passer rating. For comparison’s sake, Darius Slay, the Steelers 2025 opening day starter opposite Porter Jr., gave up 108.0 passer rating.

The Steelers Cornerback Depth Chart Entering the 2026 NFL Draft – The Backups

Leading up the depth chart behind the starters is Brandin Echols, a 5-year veteran whom the Steelers signed from the New York Jets last spring. Echols has spent most of his career as a backup, with only 7 starts since his rookie year, but he played exceptionally well as the Steelers number 3 corner last season.

Brandin Echols, Zay Flowers, Steelers vs Ravens

Brandin Echols knocks a touchdown pass away from Zay Flowers. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

The Steelers also re-signed Asante Samuel Jr. who was a midseason pickup after recovering from spinal fusion surgery following an injury suffered in the 2024 season. Samuel played 58% of the defensive snaps once he was activated, and his interception in the win over the Dolphins snuffed out what looked to be a promising drive for Miami.

The Steelers also have oft-injured Cory Trice on their roster as well as Donte Kent, their 7th round draft pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, who lost his rookie season to injury.

Steelers 2026 Draft Needs at Cornerback

Not mentioned above is Jalen Ramsey, who the Steelers officially list as a cornerback after moving to free safety in middle of the season. Ramsey will likely continue in a safety-like roving defensive back role, but he does give the team additional flexibility.

The Pittsburgh Steelers draft needs scale

This is not something that draft experts are used to saying, but this spring the Steelers have strong starters and solid backups at cornerback.

  • But, you can never have enough good cornerbacks.

Those who remember the days of Artie Burns, Antwon Blake and Coty Sensabaugh’s starting tenures know this reality all too well. Pittsburgh enters the draft with strong starting cornerbacks but lingering concerns about depth and durability, so the Steelers’ need at cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft is Moderate.

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Steelers Start Free Agency Strong, Trade for Michael Pittman Jr., Sign Jamel Dean

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Omar Khan started the Steelers off boldly on the first day of free agency, as he agreed to terms with the Indianapolis Colts to bring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to Pittsburgh and reportedly has an agreement to sign free agent cornerback Jamel Dean from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Michael Pittman beats James Pierre for a touchdown on Monday Night Football in November 2022.

Michael Pittman beats James Pierre for a touchdown. Photo Credit: Jenna Watson, IndyStar via Steelerswire.com

The Steelers have started free agency with a splash before – signing Ladarius Green in 2016 and trading for D.K. Metcalf last spring, but starting free agency with twin moves like these is out of character for this franchise.

  • Yet, the Steelers aren’t straying as far out of their comfort zone as might seem.

Their biggest roster needs are at wide receiver and cornerback. And it has been common practice in Pittsburgh to use free agency to address those to give themselves a freer hand in the draft.

In Michael Pittman the Steelers gain a 6-year starter with just under 500 catches to his name. He’s will also give Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph or Will Howard a big target to throw at, standing at 6’4” and weighing 223 pounds.

Last season teams could and did double-cover D.K. Metcalf with impunity. Now the Steelers have taken that away. Pittman is also known as a strong locker-room leader.

For the record, Pittman has also played well against the Steelers logging 100-yard games in the Colts win over the Steelers in 2024 and catching 9 balls for 115 yards in the Steelers win over Indianapolis in 2025.

As part of the deal, Pittman agreed to a 3-year contract with the Steelers for 59 million dollars, although word has not leaked about how much is guaranteed.

The cost of bringing Pittman to Pittsburgh was low. The Steelers reportedly sent one of their 6th round picks from the 2026 NFL Draft and got one of the Colts 7ths from the same draft.

In Jamel Dean the Steelers bring a 7-year veteran to Pittsburgh who has made 77 starts. Dean is credited with allowing the fewest yard-per target in 2025 and was considered one of the top free agent corners available.

Reports indicate that Jamel Dean and the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a three-year, $36.75 million contract including $12 million in guarantees.

If Pittman’s arrival fills a glaring need at wide receiver, Dean’s addition at cornerback has the potential to be transformational for the Steelers secondary. Joey Porter Jr. is there yet, but he is showing he has the potential to be a shutdown corner. They now have Dean to play alongside him, and Brandin Echols and Asante Samuel as slot and/or backup options.

That gives new Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to keep Jalen Ramsey at safety, or otherwise move him around as a chess piece throughout the Steelers secondary.

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