Joey Porter Jr.’s future in Pittsburgh is suddenly up in the air, and ESPN’s latest reporting has put a handful of teams on the radar if the Steelers decide to move on.
Porter was inactive for Pittsburgh’s season-opening win over the Falcons on Sunday because of a back injury, but that’s only part of the picture. Even once he’s healthy, it’s unclear whether he’ll be back in a Steelers uniform, since Porter and the team have not been able to reach an agreement on a contract extension. ESPN’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that an “early-season trade is possible.”
The 26-year-old cornerback still brings plenty to the table. He has the size and ability to line up against some of the league’s best receivers, and there’s still more room for him to grow. That makes him the kind of player other teams would want - though Pittsburgh, according to Rapoport and Schefter, would want a “premium draft pick” in return.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN named five possible destinations if the Steelers do decide to deal Porter: the Cowboys, Lions, Saints, Jets and 49ers.
Dallas stands out right away because of its recent business with Pittsburgh. Fowler pointed to the relationship between the two teams and wrote, “The franchise has trade-market rapport with Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan,” adding, “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 logical fit from a financial standpoint. Fowler noted that the 49ers have more than $45 million in cap space, which would make the money side of a deal much easier to manage.
He also pointed to what Porter could add on the field. “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.
For now, Porter is still on the Steelers’ roster. But if the situation keeps trending the way it has, Pittsburgh fans may not be surprised to see him wearing another team’s colors before long.
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