The Pittsburgh Steelers have ended their contract standoff with Joey Porter Jr., sending the veteran cornerback to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 sixth-round selection and a 2028 second-round pick.
Porter, 26, had not appeared in Pittsburgh’s opening three games and was ruled out of Thursday night’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns under a non-injury-related/conditioning/back designation. The trade means he will not take another snap for the franchise that drafted him in 2023.
How the Porter situation reached a trade
- Porter entered the final year of his rookie deal seeking a new contract, but negotiations with Pittsburgh did not produce an agreement.
- Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy publicly acknowledged during the offseason that the two sides were at an impasse. General manager Omar Khan later said the club would not negotiate extensions once the season began.
- Porter spent training camp on the physically unable to perform list while dealing with a back issue. He was activated on Aug. 31 and placed on the initial 53-man roster.
- Within days of returning to the roster, Porter indicated that he might not play in 2026 without a new deal.
- He subsequently missed the Steelers’ first three contests, with recent practice listings identifying conditioning while showing him as either limited or a full participant.
- Pittsburgh then agreed to the trade with Dallas, collecting a sixth-rounder in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2028.
Steelers move on from another 2023 selection
Porter was selected 32nd overall, the first choice of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft. That draft had only 31 first-round picks after the Miami Dolphins forfeited their selection as a league penalty.
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound defensive back became a regular in Pittsburgh’s lineup, starting 41 games over three seasons. He leaves with 165 tackles, three interceptions and 31 passes defended. While Porter was regarded as a reliable cover corner, his work against the run was less consistent.
His departure follows Pittsburgh’s broader effort to address its 2023 draft class. The Steelers have already extended tight end Darnell Washington, edge rusher Nick Herbig and defensive lineman Keeanu Benton. They also dealt former first-round offensive lineman Broderick Jones to Dallas rather than re-signing him.
Jones has played in all three Cowboys games, though only one of his 17 snaps has come on offense.
Dallas seeks answers in the secondary
Porter joins a Cowboys defense directed by first-year coordinator Christian Parker. Dallas ranks 30th in total defense and has yet to record an interception this season.
DaRon Bland has established himself at one cornerback position, while Shavon Revel Jr. and Cobie Durant have each received starts. Revel and Durant both missed Wednesday’s practice, increasing the importance of adding another experienced outside defender.
Porter also carries deep Steelers ties. His father, Joey Porter Sr., earned four Pro Bowl selections and won a Super Bowl during his Pittsburgh career from 1999 through 2011.
The Cowboys, now 1-2, will visit the winless Houston Texans on Sunday.
