Cowboys acquire cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Steelers for draft picks
Dallas traded a 2027 sixth-round and a 2028 second-round pick to Pittsburgh for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., adding him to a defense that has struggled early in the season.
Dallas Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones completed a trade for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on Wednesday, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a team source. Porter, the Steelers’ 2023 second-round pick, had missed the first three games while negotiating a contract extension that reportedly sought more than $30 million per year. He will join Dallas for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Porter entered the final year of his rookie contract and has not yet received a Pro Bowl nod, but he led the league in passer rating allowed among primary defenders in 2025, posting a 49.1 rating against. His career statistics include three interceptions in three seasons and a 48.1% completion percentage allowed, the fourth-lowest among cornerbacks with at least 150 passes thrown his way since 2023.
The Cowboys have $20.8 million in cap space for 2026, the eighth-largest in the league, and can roll unused space into the 2027 cap, which currently shows a negative balance. Restructuring deals for other players could free additional room, allowing Dallas to consider extensions or franchise tags for both Porter and wide receiver George Pickens, who also becomes a free agent after the season.
Dallas’ defense has ranked near the bottom of the league in several categories through the first three weeks, allowing 387 yards per game and recording no interceptions. The trade is intended to give new defensive coordinator Christian Parker more options in the secondary, where 83 % of defensive snaps have been taken by players in their first or second year with the team. Porter is expected to play primarily as an outside corner in a scheme that mixes man and zone coverage.
Porter’s agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First, also represents Pickens. If Porter leaves in free agency, Dallas could receive a 2028 third-round compensatory pick. The move reflects the Cowboys’ broader effort to strengthen a defense that has struggled since trading linebacker Micah Parsons in 2025.