Tracking NFL trades during the season: Cowboys acquire CB Joey Porter Jr

The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed Wednesday night to trade cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, ending a monthslong contract standoff, ESPN reported. The Steelers will receive a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick in return, according to ESPN and CBS Sports. The Ringer first reported the trade. The move gives Dallas reinforcement in a secondary hit by injuries, while Pittsburgh gets draft capital for a player it could not sign long-term.

Porter, one of the Steelers' 2023 second-round picks out of Penn State, started 41 games and had three interceptions in three seasons, per ESPN. Sports Illustrated reported he has played in 47 regular-season games with 165 total tackles, one sack, 31 pass breakups and three interceptions. He sat out training camp and the preseason with a back injury, was placed on the physically unable to perform list until cutdown day, and was inactive for the Steelers' first three games.

The dispute centered on guaranteed money in a potential extension, according to ESPN, and talks continued as late as hours before Pittsburgh's Week 1 kickoff before the team halted negotiations under its longstanding policy of not negotiating contracts during the regular season. CBS Sports reported Porter had turned down a Steelers offer that would have paid him slightly over $27 million for 2026. The Steelers had already ruled Porter out of Thursday night's game against Cleveland with a back injury before the trade was finalized.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, asked Monday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas about a potential trade for a cornerback, said, "I'd just say we're right on top of it. We're very aware of the moving parts out here," according to ESPN. Dallas has been without starting cornerback Cobie Durant because of a hamstring strain, and his replacement, Shavon Revel, injured his knee and ankle in last weekend's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN reported.

This marks the third trade between the Cowboys and Steelers in the past two years. In May 2025, Dallas sent Pittsburgh a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder for wide receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to ESPN. That August, Dallas also acquired tackle Broderick Jones along with a 2027 fourth-round pick, giving up third- and sixth-round selections in 2027.

Pittsburgh will move forward with Asante Samuel Jr., Jamel Dean and rookie third-round pick Daylen Everette rotating at outside cornerback, per ESPN, while Sports Illustrated reported Jalen Ramsey and Brandin Echols would handle slot duties. A new contract for Porter is not part of the trade, Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Nick Harris reported on X, writing, "Told conversations ramped up since the team's return from Brazil, and there is not a long-term deal in place as part of the deal," according to Sports Illustrated. It was unclear whether Porter would be ready to play in Dallas' Week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium, Sports Illustrated reported.