It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for a weekly Steelers links roundup at BTSC. But first, let’s take a look around the AFC North:
- Why the Ravens should not use the franchise tag on Tyler Linderbaum (Baltimore Beatdown)
- Bengals Tuesday Trenches: The pros and cons of Trey Hendrickson getting franchise tag (Cincy Jungle)
- Update on Joel Bitonio’s future with the Browns (Cincy Jungle)
Now, onto some Steelers news and discussion:
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman retires from NFL
(From PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh): Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman John Leglue is retiring from the NFL, he announced on social media. Leglue spent much of the past few seasons bouncing around practice squads.
Leglue played in six games as a Steeler during his time in the NFL, including all five of his career starts. Undrafted in 2019, he bounced around the league through 2025, putting together a solid career. According to Spotrac, he made a total of $2,054,703 over his time in pro football.
2026 NFL free agency: Best team fits for the top 50 players
(From ESPN’s: Matt Bowen): Kenneth Gainwell, RB
Best team fit: New Orleans Saints
Given the uncertainty of running back Alvin Kamara’s future in New Orleans, the team could bring in Gainwell. In coach Kellen Moore’s offense, Gainwell can be a change-of-pace runner, and he has the receiving traits to create numbers as an outlet for quarterback Tyler Shough. Gainwell caught a career-high 73 passes and was vital on third downs for Pittsburgh last season.
After being voted team MVP following the 2025 season, Gainwell returning to Pittsburgh isn’t exactly a sure thing. As Bowen points out, the Saints could make a lot of sense as a fit, and Gainwell, 26, has every reason to sign with whatever team is willing to give him his first big NFL payday. Elsewhere in the article, Bowen lists Isaac Seumalo as a good fit with the San Francisco 49ers, and Bears safety Jaquan Brisker as a strong option for Pittsburgh.
Steelers’ top 20 free agents: Aaron Rodgers among key offensive pieces
(From The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo): TE/FB Connor Heyward (age 27)
The Steelers kept four tight ends on the 53-man roster to fit the needs of Arthur Smith’s offense. As the team transitions to a different style of offense under McCarthy, Heyward will be an interesting decision. He brings special-teams value and versatility as a hybrid H-back/tight end. But will the Steelers choose to spend their money and a roster spot on a receiver instead of a tight end? Part of this discussion will be Jonnu Smith, a cut candidate. It’s also worth noting that McCarthy has deployed a traditional fullback in the past and may prefer a more dominant blocker in that role.
In this interesting exercise from The Athletic, DeFabo ranks the top 20 Steelers free agents. It’s not a particularly strong class of players set to hit the market, but there are some names worth prioritizing over others. James Pierre or Asante Samuel Jr.? Jabrill Peppers or Kyle Dugger? None of the above?
Joey Porter Jr.’s play foretells likely massive contract extension from Steelers this summer
(From TribLive’s Chris Adamski): What’s that? The ceiling is what Sauce Gardner got from the New York Jets last summer (four years, $120.4 million). According to spotrac.com, that is one of three $100 million-plus contracts cornerbacks have signed. Three are on the books with an average annual value of $25 million or more, and nine have come accompanied by at least $40 million in guarantees.
Is Porter to the level of one of the top 5-10 cornerbacks in the NFL? That’s subjective, of course — but some of the data suggest he has a strong case for it.
Only three cornerbacks had a better ratio of coverage snaps per catch allowed (17.5), per PFF, which credits Porter as 11th in the NFL at what it calls “lockdown rate.”
Entering the last year of his rookie contract, Joey Porter Jr. could be looking to cash in after an excellent 2025. And the Steelers might also be looking to lock him up long term to get ahead of the market — and future accolades for Porter.
Should the Steelers extend Joey Porter Jr. this offseason?
As alluded to above, the Steelers would be wise to sign an ascending young cornerback such as Porter as early as possible. The secondary — and defense as a whole — could use some young building blocks, and he fits the bill. The question then becomes: What would the deal look like?
The ceiling of the cornerback market currently sits at Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner’s four-year, $120.4 million deal he signed with the Jets before being traded to the Colts. Texans star Derek Stingley Jr. isn’t far behind, currently averaging $30 million per year on a three-year, $90 million deal.
Then, there’s a $5 million per year gap between second and third place, with the Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn averaging $25 million per year on a four-year, $100 million deal.
Porter isn’t quite on the same level of prestige as those names — all have multiple Pro Bowls and two have multiple All-Pro nods, and Porter has yet to be named to either. That said, the market is going to keep skyrocketing, and Porter can easily argue that he was among the NFL’s top cornerbacks in 2025 even if his accolades don’t reflect it.
Per Pro Football Reference, Porter finished tied for eighth in the NFL among cornerbacks in yards per target (five) in 2025, tied with former Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II (who makes $24 million per year). Porter’s 48.5% completion allowed ranked 10th at his position.
Again, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what Porter’s average per year will land at (and the guarantees will matter even more), but it’s beyond safe to say he’ll end up in the top 10 — maybe even top five — at his position once it’s said and done. And the Steelers might be incentivized to get a deal done before another cornerback from Porter’s draft class, Patriots star Christian Gonzalez, reaches an extension with New England.
If I was Pittsburgh, I’d offer Porter a four-year extension in the $23 million average per year ballpark — just below Surtain but ahead of names such as DaRon Bland, Jalen Ramsey, and A.J. Terrell, who Porter outperformed for the most part in 2025. It’s spendy, but that’s the cost of keeping a 25-year-old premium cornerback in the modern NFL.
What are your thoughts on Joey Porter Jr.’s Steelers future? Join the BTSC community section and let us know in the comments!