Deal confirmed: picks exchanged
The Dallas Cowboys finalized a midseason trade Thursday, acquiring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cowboys will send a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for Porter.
The club announced the transaction Thursday morning.
What Porter Jr. brings and his availability
Porter Jr. was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 32 pick in 2023. In 47 NFL games he compiled 165 tackles, 31 pass breakups and three interceptions.
Last season, Pro Football Reference credited Porter Jr. with strong coverage numbers: opponents completed just 48.5% of passes targeted his way, and he yielded a 57.2 passer rating in coverage. He also recorded his first career sack during a Week 9 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Porter has not played this season. He was inactive for Pittsburgh’s first three games while dealing with a back issue and had been in a contract stalemate with the Steelers as he entered the final year of his rookie deal. The Cowboys will inherit those circumstances as they integrate him into the roster.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported there’s a "chance" the 26-year-old could make his Cowboys debut Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Strategic fit and short-term outlook
Dallas is adding a young, physical corner with starting-level experience and proven coverage metrics. Porter Jr.’s tape with Pittsburgh showed an ability to limit completions in man and zone work, traits the Cowboys will look to leverage as they adjust personnel following Thompson’s IR move.
How quickly Porter Jr. can contribute will hinge on his health and how rapidly Dallas can get him up to speed in their scheme. The Cowboys surrendered mid-round and future draft capital to acquire him, signaling they view the move as more than a depth pickup.
Porter Jr.’s arrival closes a chapter in Pittsburgh that began when the Steelers drafted him at the end of the first round and opens a new test for a player still early in his career but now under a new defensive staff and in a different role on a contender.
