Why the Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. couldn't come to terms (Contract details)

[Kwyn]

This is long so apologies up front. I’m a read/write learner so when I am trying to understand something new or complicated, it helps me to write it down. I figured if I’m doing that, I might as well post in case someone else had been curious about the same topic.

Why the Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. couldn’t come to terms

To answer this question for myself, I spent a bunch of time on several Steelers websites, fan forums, Overthecap, and Spotrac, and even listened to an insider podcast.

First off, there was never any indication (or even leaks from the team) that JPJ was demanding top of market. The $28m AAV the Steelers offered was not the issue.

It was about guaranteed money and the franchise tag.

How Guarantees are Structured
"Total Guaranteed" is a phrase I had heard often, but it turns out I didn’t really have a handle on it.

I’ll use Gonzalez in the chart below as an example of how guarantees work for big stars.

Gonzalez signed a deal with over $100M in total potential guarantees. His absolute, 100% “fully guaranteed cash at signing” is actually much lower ($54M). The rest of that $102m ends up being guaranteed through "rolling roster triggers" each March for years 2+. If he’s on the roster, he gets the full year.

“Rolling roster trigger” guarantees are highly coveted and separates elite players from the rest.

Player	Day1 (M)	Total Guar(M)	Yr 2+ Guar
C. Gonzalez	55	102	Full Rolling
D. Witherspoon	53	101	Full Rolling
S. Gardner	48	85	Full Rolling
D. Ward	40	50	Full Rolling
T. McDuffie	38	50	Full Rolling
J. Porter Jr. (Offer)	33	Unknown	Injury-Only (No Rolling)

 

[Kwyn]

So, what went wrong for JPJ?

The Steelers offered JPJ a $33M guarantee on day one. That’s actually in line with the other Day 1 guarantees. So, first year, no problem. Both sides are happy. As mentioned above, the AAV was fine as well.

What caused the problem was years 2-4 when that the Steelers refused to give him the “rolling roster triggers” that other top CBs have been getting. Not having it left his future in doubt if the team decided his performance dipped or they wanted to use the money another way.

Further, the Steelers treated him differently than their last two star contracts.

For TJ Watt, the Steelers guaranteed 90% of his entire deal on day one.

For DK Metcalf, they guaranteed 50% of the entire contract on day one, though that rare second-year guarantee security came along as part of a trade.

Porter's contract, by comparison, guaranteed less than 30% of his total contract and lacked any of the rolling triggers that these other players get.

Threat of the Franchise Tag
To add fuel to the fire, there are Steelers insiders, including Chris Halicke, who reported front office leagues saying the Steelers had an absolute intention to tag JPJ for the next two years if he didn’t sign the deal. It’s exactly how they did Le'Veon Bell.

So, when JPJ said he felt disrespected, it wasn’t because of the average annual value; it was because he wasn’t given similar treatment to their other stars, and the Steelers let it get out that it was sign now or get double tagged

 

[big dog cowboy]

What caused the problem was years 2-4 when that the Steelers refused to give him the “rolling roster triggers” that other top CBs have been getting. Not having it left his future in doubt if the team decided his performance dipped or they wanted to use the money another way.

Looks like Stephen has been put on notice. I'm sure JPJ's agent will be bringing this up in off season talks.

 

[Kwyn]

Looks like Stephen has been put on notice. I'm sure JPJ's agent will be bringing this up in off season talks.

The Cowboys are definitely comfortable with it. Dak, CeeDee and Bland have these “rolling triggers”

They also have history of doing it with Cornerbacks other than Bland. Diggs last deal had these guarantees as well.

 

[Dorsett99Yards]

My take...guarantees tell the player you are going to be here the next three or four years. The signing bonus and the first three or four years are completely guaranteed. As long as you're willing and able to take the field. You go to prison (Aaron Hernandez), die, or retire and those guarantees gets a little iffy.

 

[Gambit]

Reading this I can see why he felt that way. Im curious how much input if any McCarthy had

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Word is they offered to guarantee 1 year of his contract up to $29M but would not go north of $30M or 2 years.

 

[Kwyn]

Reading this I can see why he felt that way. Im curious how much input if any McCarthy had

Not much, if any at all. I’m sure he knew what was going on but I’m almost certain they didn’t even ask him about the guarantees,

The Steelers are the most prehistoric front office in the league. They have lots of “rules” that other teams view as “guidelines”.

 

[Kwyn]

Word is they offered to guarantee 1 year of his contract up to $29M but would not go north of $30M or 2 years.

Thanks, I forgot to link Rappaport.

It wasn’t jsut year two. It was three and four as well.

 

[AbeBeta]

Thanks for the deep dive

But I gotta say, even before the trade people were talking about the Steelers generally refusing to guarantee anything beyond the first year. They have bent with vets a few times, but they usually hold the line. Holding the line so much that the son of one of your legends wants a trade? Wow

 

[John813]

The Steelers are known for this.
Big part of why Bell wanted out too.

At the time, they offered him 5-70mil which on the surface sounded great, until you got to the guarantees.
He was basically a WR/RB for them, and wanted more guarantees due to his workload.
IIRC I think all guarantees were paid out after 2 years.

For guys like Watt, he was simply too good to not cave to.

SJ & JJ may be cheap at times, but guaranteed money they usually have no issue handing out.

There's guaranteed at signing, and then rolling guarantees.
Some are set up to be guaranteed for 2027 if on the roster on the 5th day (march) of 2027.
Some are set up to be guaranteed for 2027 if on the roster on the 5th day (march) of 2026.
So, that allows the team at times to be able to move on without those yearly guarantees actually being guaranteed.
Then there's also guaranteed for injury that can convert to one of the above or stay just guaranteed for injury.
You got signing bonuses that are usually paid up front or split over a year.
Then guaranteed salaries which can be GTD right away or as the years come rolling.

Some teams will June 1st a guy to cut him and not get hit with the guaranteed salary. So, those "on the roster" contracts truly mean on the roster and not when their cap hit falls off on June 1st.

Other options include yearly option bonuses which the teams can convert to signing bonuses to lower the cap too.

So, can be salary + prorated signing bonus + 2027 option bonus= cap hit.
The Option can be converted to another signing bonus and then spread over remaining years+current if cap space is needed. If not, then don't exercise that option. Player gets paid either way.

 

[tunahelper]

Looks like Stephen has been put on notice. I'm sure JPJ's agent will be bringing this up in off season talks.

Cut Bland and his money can go to JPJ.