Joey Porter Jr.’s future in Pittsburgh is suddenly looking murky.
The Steelers cornerback sat out Sunday’s season-opening win over the Falcons as an inactive because of a back injury, but the bigger question now is what happens once he’s healthy. Even then, it’s not clear he’ll be back in black and gold. ESPN’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that an “early-season trade is possible” after Porter and the Steelers failed to reach a contract extension.
Porter is only 26, and the appeal is obvious. He’s a talented defensive back who can line up against some of the league’s best receivers, and there’s still room for him to grow.
That kind of player draws interest. The catch is Pittsburgh would want a “premium draft pick” in return, according to Rapoport and Schefter.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named five teams that could make sense if the Steelers decide to move him: the Cowboys, Lions, Saints, Jets and 49ers.
Dallas stands out because the Cowboys and Steelers have already done business recently. Fowler pointed to the relationship between the two front offices, writing: “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 is another team that checks a lot of boxes, especially financially. Fowler noted the 49ers have more than $45 million in cap space, which would make the money part of a deal workable.
“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 extension standoff continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s wearing a different uniform before long.
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