Key Points
- The Dallas Cowboys say they have agreed to terms on a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
- Pittsburgh receives a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network.
- Dallas adds a 41-game starter to an injury-hit secondary, while the Steelers end a months-long contract standoff with their 2023 second-round pick.
- The Steelers had not announced the deal as of early Thursday, and Porter enters the final year of his rookie contract with no extension in place.
The Joey Porter Jr. saga in Pittsburgh is over. The Dallas Cowboys announced late Wednesday, Sept. 30, that they have agreed to terms on a trade with the Steelers for the 26-year-old cornerback, ending months of uncertainty after Porter and Pittsburgh failed to agree on a contract extension.
The move gives Dallas a proven starter in a battered secondary and gives the Steelers future draft capital, though the most valuable piece does not arrive until 2028.
The trade details
The Cowboys’ official site confirmed the agreement but did not list the compensation. According to sources who spoke to ESPN, and to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, the Steelers receive:
- A 2028 second-round pick.
- A 2027 sixth-round pick.
Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix was first to report the deal. The Steelers had not issued their own announcement as of early Thursday.
What Dallas is getting
Porter was a second-round pick by Pittsburgh out of Penn State in 2023. In three seasons he has played 47 games, starting 41, with 165 tackles, 31 pass breakups and three interceptions, according to the Cowboys.
Dallas needs the help. The Cowboys have dealt with early-season injuries at cornerback, including Cobie Durant (hamstring) and Shavon Revel (knee and ankle). The team said Porter can step in as an experienced starter opposite DaRon Bland.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones hinted at a move on his Tuesday radio show after Dallas lost to the Ravens in Week 3. “I’d just say we’re right on top of it,” Jones said. “The answer to your question is yes, there’s conversations going on.”
Why Pittsburgh moved on
Porter was entering the final season of his rookie contract. He and the Steelers negotiated over the offseason but could not reach a deal before the team’s internal deadline for contract talks, which is the start of the regular season, the Cowboys’ report said.
He was inactive for Pittsburgh’s first three games. His status was listed as non-injury related, conditioning and back, and he was ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns even though he had been a full participant in practice this week.
For Pittsburgh, the return is real value with a delay. A second-round pick is a meaningful asset, but it does not arrive until 2028, so it offers no help in next spring’s draft. Steelers general manager Omar Khan had said there would be no negotiations during the season, NFL.com noted, which left a trade as the clearest way out of the impasse.
A familiar trade partner
This is the third trade between the two clubs since May 2025, according to the Cowboys. In May 2025, Dallas sent a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder to Pittsburgh for receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick, ESPN reported. In August, the Cowboys acquired offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a fourth-round pick in exchange for third- and sixth-round picks.
What happens next
Porter will not play for Pittsburgh against Cleveland on Thursday, and the Steelers have yet to confirm the deal on their side. The bigger question is his contract: he is due to become a free agent after this season, and the Cowboys said “time will tell” whether they and Porter can agree on an extension.
For more from around the league, see our recap of the Falcons’ 35-14 win over the Packers and the latest on Jaxson Dart’s knee surgery.
