The Dallas Cowboys moved to address their struggling secondary on Oct. 1, acquiring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade that pushes the most significant draft cost into 2028. Three days earlier, the New York Giants added quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings after Jaxson Dart underwent season-ending knee surgery.
Cowboys add Porter as Pittsburgh exits contract standoff
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Dallas acquired Porter on Oct. 1, bringing in a physical outside corner for a defense that had not found consistency despite its offseason personnel additions.
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The Cowboys will not surrender their major draft asset until 2028, while the overall package also includes a sixth-round pick and future draft-position movement. The delayed cost gives Dallas a chance to chase an immediate upgrade without sacrificing a premium selection in the current draft cycle.
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Porter is expected to fit into defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s system, particularly in man coverage. His ability to press receivers and stay attached on the boundary could allow Dallas to play a more aggressive style outside.
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Porter has drawn penalties during his career, but Dallas is betting those risks are manageable if he delivers high-level coverage over the final 14 games of the season.
The Cowboys have a range of long-term options if Porter plays well. They could negotiate an offseason extension, use the franchise tag or allow him to reach free agency and potentially recoup a compensatory selection in 2028.
Dallas is taking a familiar approach after its George Pickens move, accepting a short-term commitment while postponing the larger contract decision. The deal becomes far less attractive if Porter is injured or fails to perform, but the Cowboys have added a player with Pro Bowl-level upside at a position of need.
Steelers lose a top corner and add uncertainty
Pittsburgh avoided paying Porter at the top of the cornerback market, a level that could approach the contracts associated with Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon. Porter has shown he can be a quality starter, but the Steelers apparently did not view him as deserving that tier of salary.
The larger concern for Pittsburgh is timing. Had general manager Omar Khan concluded earlier in the offseason that the club would not meet Porter’s price, the Steelers might have been able to secure stronger compensation. Instead, the contract dispute carried into the season, weakening their leverage and leaving the roster thinner at cornerback.
The trade also invites renewed scrutiny of Khan’s roster-building record. He earned substantial credit after the Chase Claypool trade with Chicago produced the second-round pick used on Porter. Now Pittsburgh has dealt that player away for a return viewed as considerably lighter than his talent might have commanded earlier in the year.
If the Steelers struggle, Khan could face pressure after a run of uneven drafts, the Pickens transaction and other disputed decisions. More immediately, Pittsburgh must replace a starting-caliber corner while relying on a young group at the position.
Giants turn to McCarthy after Dart injury
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The Giants lost Dart for the rest of the regular season following knee surgery, creating an urgent need for quarterback depth.
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New York acquired McCarthy from Minnesota on Sept. 28 for a future fifth-round pick.
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The Vikings had already indicated they were prepared to move beyond McCarthy, signing Kyler Murray and re-signing Carson Wentz during the offseason.
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McCarthy received an opportunity to compete in training camp but could not win either the starting role or the primary backup job over Wentz.
Minnesota’s return reflects how far McCarthy’s value had fallen. The former No. 10 overall selection had been acquired at the cost of a first-round pick, a fourth-rounder and a late-pick swap, but the Vikings ultimately received only 10 starts from him and a future fifth-round selection.
Injuries and a disappointing preseason limited Minnesota’s market. For a club focused on winning now, waiting for the 23-year-old quarterback to develop was no longer viewed as practical.
New York, however, saw enough value in a low-cost gamble. The Giants operate with a ground-oriented offensive identity under John Harbaugh and his staff, and they will attempt to provide a better environment for McCarthy than he had in Minnesota under Kevin O’Connell.
Jameis Winston remains capable of starting for a short stretch, but his volatile style raises questions about whether he can hold the job for the remaining 15 games. McCarthy gives the Giants another option if Winston struggles, even though New York’s limited collection of 2027 draft picks makes any future-pick expenditure notable.
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10, leaving teams more than a month to make further roster adjustments as injuries, contract issues and playoff races reshape the market.
