Terms of Joey Porter Jr.'s rookie contract with Pittsburgh Steelers revealed

Joey Porter Jr. is officially a Pittsburgh Steeler. The defensive back reportedly agreed to terms with the organization this week, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.

Porter has agreed to a four-year contract worth $9.618 million. The first three years of the deal are fully-guaranteed for the former Penn State star. He also receives a full signing bonus of $3.995 up front.

#Steelers have agreed to terms on a four-year, $9.618 million deal with second-round pick Joey Porter Jr., per a league source. First three years are fully guaranteed. And he eceives full signing bonus upfront of $3.995 million @KPRC2 @PennStateFball

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 25, 2023

Pittsburgh selected Porter with the No. 32 overall selection in the second round. He was a standout for the Nittany Lions and found himself flirting with a first-round status entering the 2023 NFL Draft.

At Penn State, Porter was a three-time All-Big Ten selection. He earned second-team honors in 2020 and 2021 before making a jump to first-team in 2022.

In four seasons in Happy Valley, Porter emerged as one of the Big Ten’s top lockdown defensive backs. He ended his career with the Nittany Lions with 113 tackles, 20 passes defended and an interception.

Joey Porter Jr. making adjustments to NFL

No matter how talented the player, making the jump from college to the NFL can be quite the adjustment. Porter is doing everything he can to get acclimated as quickly as possible.

Last month, he talked about his first experience with OTAs. It’s certainly something that helps players get adjusted to the professional ranks.

“Feeling good. It’s a rookie thing, so I have to get used to everything,” Porter said. “Everything wasn’t the best and I’ve just got to realize that and know that and carry on to mini-camp now.”

Pittsburgh’s selection of Porter also had some emotional ties. His father, Joey Porter Sr., played for the Steelers from 1999-2006. That made things a little bit easier for the younger Porter.

“It was something crazy,” Porter said of his first practice. “Something I checked off my bucket list now that I am an actual Steeler. It was good. I feel at home already. As a young kid I used to come through these doors and work out, and now I am a grown man doing the same thing, so it feels good.”

Joey Sr. said he really wanted his son to suit up for the Steelers.

“I wanted it to be the Steelers so bad for him,” he said, via Pro Football Talk. “But they did such a good job of not letting us know. I have over 50 friends in that building that know me personally… I got nothing from anybody to say, ‘man, be ready, it’s coming,’ or anything. We wanted it. Trust me, that’s what we wanted. But we just didn’t feel like we could say for sure that’s what it was going to be.”