The New Orleans Saints don’t have to like the price on Joey Porter Jr. to know they should at least make the phone call.
Porter has been floating around the rumor mill as contract talks with the Pittsburgh Steelers have dragged on without an extension. Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots finally reached an agreement late Monday night, but Porter is still waiting. If that standoff continues, the Saints ought to be watching closely.
That’s because their cornerback room is still a real question mark. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the clear headliner, but the depth behind him is shaky.
Quincy Riley has upside in his second year, yet he’s still unproven. Beyond that, Martin Emerson Jr., Jayden Price and Decamerion Richardson are in the mix.
There’s talent there, sure, but right now it’s more projection than certainty.
Porter would change that in a hurry. At 26, he already has proven NFL production, and he’d walk in as an immediate starter. Put him next to McKinstry, and the Saints would suddenly have a tandem that looks a whole lot better than the group they’re rolling with now.
The catch, of course, is the cost. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently put together a list of possible blockbuster trades before the season, and one of the scenarios had the Steelers landing a 2027 first-round pick for Porter. The Saints weren’t part of that deal, but it gives a pretty clear sense of the kind of return he could command.
That’s where the Saints have to be careful. Trading a first-round pick, or anything close to that, would be a steep price for Mickey Loomis to pay, especially with the buzz around the 2027 draft class.
It’s also hard to imagine Kellen Moore pushing for that kind of move. New Orleans values those picks too much, and a deal like that feels unlikely.
Still, there’s no reason to ignore the situation. Even if a trade isn’t realistic right now, the Saints would be doing themselves a disservice not to check in with Pittsburgh. Right now the Steelers and Saints don’t have much leverage to force anything, but that could shift fast if negotiations stay stuck.
So for now, a Porter trade feels like a long shot. But this is the kind of name that could go quiet for a while and then explode back onto the radar as the deadline approaches in early November.
In Other News...
Saints Captain Picks Just Sparked An Immediate Locker Room Debate
The Saints have settled on their leadership group for the 2026 season, and it is a familiar mix of core veterans and newer voices. New quarterback Tyler Shough is among the nine players named captains, joined by center Erik McCoy, guard David Edwards, EDGE rushers Cameron Jordan and Chase Young, linebackers Chris Rumph II and Kaden Ellis, safety Justin Reid and long snapper Zach Wood.
The bigger surprise is who is not in the room this time around. Alvin Kamara, who had previously worn the captain label, was left off the list, a decision that instantly adds an extra layer to the way this locker room is being organized heading into the season. For a team trying to define its identity around a new quarterback and a still-recognizable veteran backbone, the captaincy vote says plenty about where the Saints think their leadership is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Suddenly Face A Receiver Depth Problem Before Week 1
With injuries leaving the active receiver group thinner than expected, the Saints brought in a handful of pass-catching options for workouts as they continue getting ready for the season. Tru Edwards, Courtney Jackson, Cam Ross and Kyrese Rowan were among the wideouts evaluated, giving the coaching staff a chance to take a closer look at possible depth additions before the first game matters.
The workouts do not mean a move is imminent, but they do underline how quickly the receiver picture has changed. For New Orleans, the search right now is less about a splash and more about finding enough dependable bodies to survive the early stretch and give the offense some flexibility if the injury situation lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Kendre Miller Enters A Crucial Saints Season With Little Margin Left
As the Saints turn the page toward their 2026 opener against the Lions, Kendre Miller is again one of the more interesting pieces on the roster watch. The third-year running back is set to wear No. 5, a small change that comes with a bigger backdrop: New Orleans still sees enough talent there to keep hoping, even after injuries have interrupted much of his NFL start.
Millers challenge is no secret at this point. He has missed a significant number of games over his first three seasons, and the Saints added Travis Etienne in free agency, a move that only tightens the competition in the backfield. With free agency approaching and his role still unsettled, Miller is entering a pivotal stretch where availability may matter just as much as ability. [Read more 🡒]