Joey Porter Jr.’s status in Pittsburgh already feels shaky, and the trade chatter around the Steelers cornerback is getting louder by the day.
Porter was inactive for Pittsburgh’s season-opening win over the Falcons on Sunday because of a back injury, but even once he’s healthy, it’s still unclear whether he’ll be back in a Steelers uniform. With Porter and the team unable to come together on a contract extension, ESPN’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that an “early-season trade is possible.”
That possibility has real weight because Porter is still only 26 and brings the kind of talent that can line up with the league’s best wideouts. He also still has room to grow, which makes him an appealing name if Pittsburgh decides to move him. The catch, according to Rapoport and Schefter, is that the Steelers want a “premium draft pick” in return.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named five teams that could make sense if Pittsburgh does deal him: the Cowboys, Lions, Saints, Jets and 49ers.
Dallas stands out as the most intriguing name on that list. Fowler pointed to the recent trade history between the two teams and the working relationship between the front offices.
“The franchise has trade-market rapport with Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan,” Fowler wrote. “The sides have reached deals in back-to-back offseasons, as Dallas traded for wide receiver George Pickens in May 2025 and offensive tackle Broderick Jones on Aug. 29.
“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.”
San Francisco also looks like a strong fit from a financial standpoint. Fowler noted that the 49ers have more than $45 million in cap space, so money wouldn’t be the obstacle.
“The 49ers' cornerback rotation looked stout Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams, but seasons are long and Porter would help the defense immensely. ... Porter opposite Deommodore Lenoir would form a stout 1-2 cornerback combo,” Fowler wrote.
Porter is still on the Steelers’ roster for now, but the rumors are strong enough that a midseason move would not come as a surprise.
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