Biggest NFL contract drama entering Week 1: Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. leads the way - Steelers Wire
As most of the NFL prepares for its 2026 regular season opener on Sunday, there's a lot of contract drama running rampant around the league. There are five players who have demanded the most attention when it comes to contract talks over the past several months, including Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
With that in mind, here's a look at several players involved in the biggest contract drama from around the league, kicking things off with an underrated wide receiver playing in the final year of his rookie contract.
Talks between Washington and the Jacksonville Jaguars have essentially broken down, with the two sides unlikely to reach an agreement before the start of Sunday's game. Washington, who has recorded 1,369 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns since entering the league in 2023, has seen his contract value linked to Michael Wilson's recent three-year, $75 million extension with the Arizona Cardinals. But Jacksonville may not see Washington as that type of impact player just yet.
Arguably the top quarterback from the 2023 NFL Draft class, Stroud is also looking for a long-term extension after the Houston Texans exercised his $25.9 million fifth-year option. Both the Texans and Stroud agreed to table extension talks until after the season, as Stroud is looking to bet on himself in a huge way in 2026.
Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens have been linked to contract talks, as his current deal just runs through the 2027 season. Reports have indicated that the two sides are not looking to get an extension done this year and will instead revisit contract negotiations after the 2026 season. Baltimore is willing to make Jackson the highest-paid quarterback, but the two-time MVP is likely waiting to see how the quarterback market continues to play out.
The Steelers aren't the only AFC North team with a talented cornerback in the final year of his rookie deal, as the Cincinnati Bengals face a similar situation with cornerback D.J. Turner. Turner has already admitted that whether he's the highest-paid cornerback or doesn't have a long-term deal, his mindset won't change in 2026. Still, financial security typically weighs heavily on the minds of young players, and this situation is one to watch as the Bengals attempt to rebuild their defense.
There's little debate here: Porter's contract standoff with the Steelers is getting ugly. Porter sat out of practice for the past month with a mysterious back injury but was activated off the physically unable to perform list just in time for the Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the two sides engaging in contract talks, some believe they won't reach a deal by Sunday's game. The Steelers refuse to negotiate contracts midseason, which means Porter will have no choice but to play out his rookie deal or hold out and get fined
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