The Saints have a decision to make at corner, and it could end up shaping how aggressively they approach the rest of the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr. has emerged as a name to watch after contract talks with the Steelers hit an impasse. Reports have already pointed to his willingness to move on, and his absence from Pittsburgh’s sideline only added fuel to the speculation. With Porter in a contract year, there should be no shortage of teams ready to inquire.
The appeal is obvious. Pro Football Focus had Porter ninth-best in passer rating allowed in man coverage among 120 cornerbacks who played at least 160 snaps in pass protection last year.
When Pittsburgh switched to zone, he climbed even higher, ranking sixth-best. That kind of production would be a clear upgrade for a Saints secondary that has not gotten that level of play from Kool-Aid McKinstry or Quincy Riley.
McKinstry ranked 78th in man and 71st in zone, while Riley came in 101st in man and 88th in zone.
New Orleans was reportedly high on former LSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane with its first-round pick during this spring’s 2026 NFL Draft, which suggests the team may already be open to adding at the position. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also made the case for the Saints to call Pittsburgh, writing:
"New Orleans is rolling with young corners Quincy Riley and Kool-Aid McKinstry, but if the team wants reinforcements, Pittsburgh is the sensible call."
The Saints also have about $8 million in cap space and six total draft picks in April, while Tyler Shough is in the second year of his rookie deal. That combination makes this the kind of moment where a bold move could at least be considered.
Still, the fit has to be weighed against the cost. McKinstry played every one of New Orleans’ 77 defensive snaps in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, and PFF charting had him targeted seven times.
He allowed four catches for 42 yards, including 15 after the catch, along with three first downs, though he did record a pass breakup. Riley was on the field for 66 snaps and was targeted nine times, giving up five completions for 58 yards, 13 after the catch, three first downs and two touchdowns, while also notching a pass breakup.
Veteran backup Martin Emerson Jr. stepped in for 11 snaps and was targeted once, allowing a 7-yard catch to Jameson Williams underneath but preventing a first-down conversion.
That brings the discussion back to Porter’s value. He would instantly become the Saints’ top corner and give Brandon Staley’s defense a real upgrade, with McKinstry as the CB2 and Riley or Emerson providing depth.
There’s even a path where one of those corners could be part of a deal back to Pittsburgh, which could help New Orleans avoid surrendering the first-round pick the Steelers would almost certainly want. McKinstry is under contract for next season, and Pittsburgh is familiar with Emerson after facing him when he was with the Cleveland Browns.
But Porter comes with baggage beyond the asking price. The Steelers are open to moving him because they do not want to meet his $30 million per year demand.
He’s a strong player in both man and zone, but he has also been a frequent penalty risk, drawing 26 accepted penalties with 11 more offset or declined across 47 games. By comparison, Alontae Taylor was flagged 20 times, with one more penalty declined, in 64 games, while Paulson Adebo had 27 penalties with seven more offset or declined in 52 games for the Saints.
For now, the bigger question may be timing. If New Orleans stumbles and loses next week to the Baltimore Ravens, the safer play would be to keep its premium draft capital.
If the Saints instead catch fire, reach their bye week at 5-2, and start building an early lead in the NFC South, then a move for a player like Porter starts to look far more realistic. The Saints have clean books in 2027 and beyond, and the cornerback room is loaded with rookie and minimum contracts.
What they cannot afford is a repeat of the 2023 draft mistake, especially if the pick they send out ends up being a top-10 selection.
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