The Cowboys’ defensive overhaul got a rude awakening in Week 1, and it may have pushed Joey Porter Jr. even closer to the center of the conversation in Dallas.
After the 28-20 loss to the Giants, the problems were impossible to miss. New York controlled the game on third down, converting 9 of 11 chances, the highest third-down conversion percentage in a game since 1978 for the G-Men.
The Giants were just as sharp in the red zone, finishing 4-for-4. For a defense that was supposed to look different under Christian Parker, replacing Matt Eberflus as coordinator, the debut was a rough one.
That’s why Porter stands out as a possible fix. ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler recently named Dallas as the top trade fit for the disgruntled Steelers cornerback, and the logic is easy to follow. The Cowboys and Steelers have already done business twice in the last two offseasons, with Dallas trading for George Pickens and Broderick Jones.
"The franchise has trade-market rapport with Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan. The sides have reached deals in back-to-back offseasons," Fowler noted.
"Dallas did not discuss Porter with Pittsburgh at the time of the Jones trade. But that would be an easy call for the Cowboys to make if interested."
The catch, as always, is the price. Fowler said Porter would likely cost at least a second-round pick, and maybe a first. Dallas has already spent some of its draft capital, and the club owes the better of its own first-round pick or Green Bay’s first-round pick to the New York Jets, along with its third-round selection to the Steelers.
"Dallas has given up some of its draft capital. The team has seven selections in 2027, but four of those are in the sixth and seventh rounds," Fowler adds.
"Porter would likely cost at least a second-round pick, possibly a first. The Cowboys owe the better of theirs or Green Bay's first-round pick to the New York Jets, and their third-round selection to the Steelers."
Porter’s name carries weight in Pittsburgh, where his father’s tenure made him a familiar figure from childhood. But at 26, the former second-round pick appears to be at a point where his future with the Steelers is uncertain, and the market for him should be strong.
At 6-foot-2, Porter has the kind of size and athleticism that could fit into Parker’s scheme as it develops. Nothing is done yet, but after a Week 1 performance that exposed plenty of flaws, he’s now one of the clearest names to watch as Dallas looks for help in the secondary.
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Cowboys Loss Exposed The Same Problems Fans Feared Most
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New York converted 10 of 11 third downs, a brutal sign for a unit that was supposed to look sturdier after the changes. Add in the penalties, missed tackles, a costly interception and dropped passes, and the Cowboys were left with the same mix of execution problems and coaching questions that have followed them before, only now with an opening loss to show for it. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Trade Deadline Hope Just Got Much Tougher For Jerry Jones
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But the market has gotten a lot more complicated. The Rams also explored a deal for Crosby, only to learn he does not want to be moved and would rather remain in Las Vegas, and that kind of stance changes the temperature around any chase. For the Cowboys, it means any renewed push would have to overcome not just trade cost, but a player preference that could make a November 10 deal much harder to pull off. [Read more 🡒]