The Joey Porter Jr. saga ended fast once it finally broke open.
After spending the offseason waiting on a long-term extension that never came, the Steelers moved on Wednesday night and agreed to send Porter to the Cowboys, according to ESPN. Pittsburgh will get a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick in return.
Porter’s time in Pittsburgh had already been marked by tension and uncertainty. He dealt with a back issue, missed the Steelers’ first three games this season and was ruled out Thursday against the Browns because of that same injury.
The contract dispute had been simmering for months, with the Steelers reportedly putting an offer on the table that would have paid just north of $27 million in 2026. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported Porter turned it down, and negotiations stopped there.
General manager Omar Khan also said the team would not negotiate during the season.
Porter wanted a new deal after fellow draft classmates Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon landed record-setting extensions. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that Porter was believed to be looking for $30 million per season, a number only six cornerbacks currently make. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, viewed him as a productive starter who still had not made a Pro Bowl.
The Steelers drafted Porter 32nd overall in 2023, and he started 41 of 47 games for the franchise. Now he’s headed to Dallas, where the Cowboys need help in a secondary hit hard by injuries.
Adam Schefter reported Thursday that Porter has a chance to debut Sunday against the Texans, and Dallas will try to get him ready. The Cowboys also have not recorded an interception this season, and first-year coordinator Christian Parker has had trouble getting the defense on track.
Cobie Durant is dealing with a hamstring strain and is not expected to face Houston.
Dallas enters 1-2 after a dramatic last-second loss to the Ravens in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Porter would give them an experienced playmaker; he has three interceptions and 31 pass breakups.
The Cowboys are not expected to hand him an extension anytime soon, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins reported Porter has not asked for one yet. Mike Florio suggested Dallas could use the franchise tag next offseason to buy more time.
The move also adds another chapter to the recent trade history between these two teams. This is the third deal between Pittsburgh and Dallas in 17 months.
In May 2025, the Cowboys sent the Steelers a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder for George Pickens. Then in August, Dallas acquired tackle Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-rounder.
Pittsburgh, in the meantime, now rotates Asante Samuel Jr., Jamel Dean and Daylen Everette at outside cornerback.
In Other News...
Cardinals Rookie Back Is Giving Fans A Real Draft Debate
As October arrives, this rookie class is still waiting for a true breakout at quarterback, but the early returns at other spots have been more encouraging. Around the league, a handful of first-year players have already carved out real roles, from Jets tight end Sadiq to Cowboys linebackers Barham and Reese, while running back Jeremiyah Love and linebacker Trotter have also started to make their presence felt for their teams.
For Dallas, the most relevant takeaway is how quickly some of these rookies are forcing coaches and fans to pay attention. The Cowboys have already seen promise from Barham and Reese on defense, and the broader draft conversation is getting harder to ignore as more first-year players keep stacking good weeks. With so many early impressions still forming, the rookie debate is just starting to sharpen for teams that value immediate impact. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Face An Early Gut Check As Doubts Start Growing
The Cowboys head into Week 4 with more than just another AFC South test on the schedule. A trip to face the Texans brings injury questions on both sides, but Dallas is dealing with a particularly uneasy situation in its secondary while the offense is also drawing fresh scrutiny over Brian Schottenheimers play-calling.
For a team trying to steady itself early in the season, this is the kind of matchup that can sharpen the conversation fast. Dallas is already managing multiple key absences on defense, and the pressure only grows when the offense does not look as comfortable as it should, making Sunday a useful early measure of where the Cowboys really are. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Ferguson Gets Pulled Into A Relationship Debate Fans Will Have Thoughts On
A little off the field banter has reached Jake Fergusons orbit after Haley Cavinder and Claire Kittle appeared together on a podcast and started comparing relationship styles. The conversation centered on a familiar old issue: whether couples should work through disagreements before going to sleep or let the argument sit until the next day. Claire Kittle made the case for not going to bed angry and keeping the peace with goodnight kisses, while Haley Cavinder said she prefers to sleep on it and revisit things later.
For Cowboys fans, it is one more reminder that Fergusons name keeps popping up beyond the box score during the early part of the 2026 season. He has already been part of Dallas passing game with receptions and receiving yards on the board, while George Kittle has been doing his usual work for San Francisco. The football side of the story is straightforward enough, but the podcast debate gives Ferguson another moment in the spotlight for reasons that have nothing to do with routes, catches or yards. [Read more 🡒]