Joey Porter Jr. traded from Steelers to Cowboys

The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys. In exchange, Pittsburgh will receive a 2028 second-round draft pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

The trade follows a prolonged contract stalemate between Porter and the Steelers. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Porter reportedly sought an extension worth approximately $30 million per season, a figure the Steelers were unwilling to meet. Porter expressed feeling “disrespected” and “undervalued” during the negotiations, which led to him missing the first three games of the season due to a combination of contract disputes and a back injury.

For the Cowboys, the acquisition addresses a secondary heavily impacted by injuries to players such as Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel Jr. Dallas owner Jerry Jones reportedly included a clause in the deal to protect the team’s 2027 sixth-round pick, stipulating it only transfers to Pittsburgh if Porter appears on the gameday roster for at least two games this season.

While the Steelers face a depleted secondary during their current season, the Cowboys are looking to integrate Porter quickly, with the possibility of him debuting as early as this Sunday against the Houston Texans.