The Detroit Lions have been linked to a possible run at Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and CBS Sports recently floated three mock trade ideas for Brad Holmes to consider. With Porter still without a regular-season appearance because of a contract dispute, the idea of moving him has started to gain traction, and Detroit’s need for help in the secondary makes the fit easy to see.
Porter’s situation stands out because other players from the 2023 NFL Draft class have already landed major extensions, while he has not signed a new deal. That has put him in the trade conversation, and CBS Sports’ proposals all centered on what it might take for the Lions to land him.
The first deal would send Detroit’s 2027 second-round pick and 2028 third-round pick to Pittsburgh. That would let the Lions keep their first-round selection, which makes it the cleanest of the three from Detroit’s side. Even so, it still asks a lot, with the Lions giving up Day Two picks in back-to-back years.
That package also may not be enough for Steelers general manager Omar Khan, who reports say has a high asking price for Porter. The comparison to the haul the New York Jets received for Sauce Gardner last year makes it look light.
From Detroit’s standpoint, though, it would be the best-case setup if the goal is to hold onto the first-rounder while still adding a major piece. It could also help preserve flexibility as the Lions look to sign two more members of their 2023 class, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch, to extensions in an already difficult salary cap situation.
If Porter isn’t extended after a deal, the cost would be steep for a rental, but it still feels like the kind of swing that makes sense if the Lions are trying to push into contender territory.
The second scenario is tougher to stomach. In that version, the Lions would get Porter and a 2027 third-round pick, while sending Pittsburgh their 2027 first-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The extra pick coming back helps a little, but not enough to offset the loss of a first-rounder for a player who may not stay long term.
If Detroit were planning to sign Porter to an extension right away, the conversation changes. Even then, the price is hard to ignore.
There is an argument that Porter would give the Lions more immediate value within their current window than a late first-round pick, but that only works if the team believes he’s part of the future. Without that certainty, the first-round pick makes the deal too expensive.
The most aggressive idea of the bunch would be a blockbuster involving Porter and DK Metcalf. Under that setup, the Lions would receive Porter, Metcalf and a Steelers 2027 fourth-round pick, while Pittsburgh would get Jameson Williams and Detroit’s 2027 first-round pick. It is the boldest of the three and the hardest to picture.
Williams has gotten off to a slow start this season, but he still carries real value in the offense and could break out at any moment. Metcalf is a proven receiver, but he is older than Williams and is coming off a down year in Pittsburgh that ended with a suspension after an incident with a fan at Detroit’s Ford Field. Even with Metcalf’s track record, it’s hard to see the Lions preferring that switch from Williams, especially once the first-round pick is added to the price.
Of the three mock trades, the one that keeps Detroit’s first-round pick looks like the most workable. The other two ask the Lions to give up too much for a player whose long-term status is still uncertain.
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