Cowboys Acquire Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Steelers in Bold Move for Super Bowl Push
Dallas fortifies secondary by trading future draft picks for the Pro Bowl cornerback.
The Dallas Cowboys have acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade that sends a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick to Pittsburgh. Porter confirmed the deal on his Instagram Stories, stating, "Here I come ... Dallas."
The move signals a significant commitment from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to bolster the team's roster in pursuit of a Super Bowl championship. This aggressive approach echoes sentiments previously expressed by Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead, who famously wore a "F--- them picks" T-shirt after his team's Super Bowl victory.
Porter had been dealing with a back issue and contentious contract negotiations with the Steelers, which led to his inactivity for the team's first three games of the 2026 regular season. Last season, he recorded an interception, 52 tackles, and a sack.
Dallas’s secondary has been a point of concern, with the team allowing an average of 387 passing yards per game, ranking third-worst in the league. Despite an early-season point differential of plus-6, the Cowboys have already suffered losses to the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens.
This trade follows a pattern of significant roster moves by the Cowboys in the past year. Prior to the 2025 season, Dallas traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. They later acquired Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets via trade during the season.
Jones has previously indicated his willingness to trade draft capital to improve the team. While a potential trade for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby did not materialize, the acquisition of Porter Jr. addresses a key need in the defensive backfield.
Jones, 83, has expressed a strong desire to win another Super Bowl, and the addition of Porter Jr. is seen as a crucial step toward achieving that goal. The cornerback was inactive for Pittsburgh's recent game against the Cleveland Browns and had already been ruled out for their Thursday night matchup.