The Dallas Cowboys are acquiring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, according to reports. Porter, a 26-year-old former second-round selection out of Penn State, has been inactive for all three games this season while dealing with a back issue and seeking a contract extension in the final year of his rookie deal.
The move comes as Dallas reshuffles a secondary that keeps losing bodies. The Cowboys placed safety Jalen Thompson on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and P.J. Locke is already on IR with a torn plantar fascia. The defense has struggled badly on the ground this season and has yet to record an interception, putting pressure on first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker to find answers.
For Dallas, the trade is a low-cost bet on talent. Porter showed top-20 pass-breakup ability early in his career, and if his back cooperates, he could step into a cornerback room that needs help immediately. It’s also the second notable Cowboys-Steelers trade in two years, following the 2025 deal that brought wide receiver George Pickens to Dallas. Do you think Porter gets healthy and makes an impact, or is this a gamble the Cowboys will regret?
