Steelers Trade Porter Jr. to Cowboys for Two Draft Picks — SkimNews
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- Pittsburgh Steelers traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, ending a contract stalemate that stretched from the offseason through three weeks of the regular season — the third trade between the two teams in two years.
- Joey Porter Jr. was sidelined by a back injury and inactive for all three games while seeking a contract extension; the trade was not contingent on a new deal, and per Dan Graziano's sources, the Cowboys don't plan to extend him this season — leaving him likely to test free agency for top-of-market money (~$33M APY, the tier recently reset by Witherspoon and Gonzalez).
- The Dallas Cowboys are one of three NFL teams without an interception this season, with opposing quarterbacks completing 72.6% of passes against them; injuries to Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel Jr., Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, and Malik Hooker prompted Jerry Jones — who had hinted since training camp he'd trade draft capital — to make the deal.
- Porter profiles as a press-man corner: since 2023, opposing QBs have completed just 56% of passes when he's the nearest defender (13th lowest among players with 100+ targets), fitting new coordinator Christian Parker's scheme that runs more man coverage (24.8%) than the league average (23.2%).
- The Steelers' defense under new coordinator Patrick Graham runs more zone coverage, and rookie third-round pick Daylen Everette already impressed filling in against Cincinnati; with eight 2027 picks plus the extra 2028 second-rounder, Pittsburgh has capital to add via trade.
- Analyst Ben Solak graded the trade B for Dallas, C+ for Pittsburgh, arguing the Steelers "could have — and should have — gotten at least a first-round pick" by dealing Porter in the spring or earlier summer before his back injury and contract impasse eroded his trade value.
- Porter's agent, David Mulugheta, also represents George Pickens, DeMarvion Overshown, and Micah Parsons — the latter traded from Dallas to Green Bay last year after an ugly contract standoff — a pattern the source notes suggests Porter knows the Cowboys' plan: play this year without a new deal, then test the market.
Why it matters: Dallas addresses an interception-less secondary (72.6% opponent completion rate) without committing to a new contract, betting Porter's press-man skills fit coordinator Christian Parker's scheme. The Steelers accepted a sixth and a future second-rounder for a 25-year-old former second-rounder — well below the first-round return analyst Ben Solak argues a spring trade could have fetched before Porter's back injury eroded his value.
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