The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback hunt keeps widening, but one of the most intriguing possibilities floating around isn’t a draft pick or a free agent. It’s a trade idea that would force Pittsburgh to decide whether it would ever part with Joey Porter Jr. for Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud.
That’s the kind of conversation getting traction as the Steelers sort through their long-term plans. The team is still looking at every option for the future at quarterback, and the source material points to a scenario where a player could arrive now, spend a year learning behind Aaron Rodgers and from Mike McCarthy, then take over in 2027.
Stroud is the name drawing the attention. The Texans quarterback is not close on a contract extension, and that opens the door to the possibility that the former second-overall pick could be playing his final season in Houston before reaching free agency. At the same time, Pittsburgh is also not close on a deal with Porter Jr., which is why the discussion has started to connect those two names.
There’s no question Stroud would be a tempting target for the Steelers if they believed they could land him and get him signed to an extension. He’s young, he has already flashed plenty of upside, and the source material notes that he has never had the right offensive coaching. Mike McCarthy could be the piece that helps unlock him.
But Porter Jr. is viewed very differently. The source describes him as a lock, barring injuries, and says it’s difficult to picture the former second-round pick trending downward over the next few seasons. The expectation there is continued growth, with the possibility of multiple Pro Bowls and a rise into the top 10, maybe even the top five, among NFL cornerbacks.
That’s why a straight-up move involving Porter Jr. feels unlikely. The Steelers may not be out on the idea of trading for Stroud, but the deal would have to be separate from Porter Jr. and work within a price tag Pittsburgh could live with.
The source makes clear the Steelers are not sending first-round picks to Houston for Stroud. A second-rounder and additional compensation, though, is presented as more realistic.
Pittsburgh would prefer to keep Porter Jr. in place, and the organization has a track record of getting deals done with players it wants to retain. So while the Stroud talk is out there, the expectation is that the Steelers’ young cornerback isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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