FRISCO, Texas — The Pittsburgh Steelers are trading cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, NFL insider Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report reported late Wednesday night.
Dallas is sending a second-round pick and a conditional sixth-round pick to Pittsburgh in the deal, Schultz reported later Wednesday night, and the trade was being finalized that night. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero also reported that Pittsburgh was finalizing the deal. Neither team had announced the trade as of publication.
Porter has not played in 2026. A back injury kept him out of the Steelers’ first three games, and he has been listed at other times for conditioning. He is in the final year of his rookie contract after he and the Steelers did not agree to an extension before the season, and Pittsburgh does not negotiate contracts once the regular season begins.
Three days before the trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Dallas and the Detroit Lions were among a handful of teams that had called Pittsburgh about Porter. According to that report, the Steelers were willing to listen to offers but wanted a strong compensation package for the fourth-year cornerback.
On Tuesday, Josina Anderson reported on her Substack, The Exhibit, that the Cowboys were definitely interested but that the two sides’ thresholds on compensation did not match.
Jerry Jones On Trade Conversations Before The Joey Porter Jr. Deal
Jerry Jones did not discuss Porter by name Tuesday during his weekly appearance on the Shan and RJ show on 105.3 The Fan, the day before the trade was reported. The time of year, as the Cowboys owner and general manager described it, is one when discussions with other teams can be productive.
“We’re right on top of it,” Jones said. “We’re very aware of the moving parts out here, we should be, and communication is a big part of that. It’s a big part of it, and communication at all levels: at my level, at Stephen’s level, at the scouts’ level. We all have contacts. And this is a time when you really can have discussions and they can be productive.”
“The answer to your question is, yes, there’s conversations going on,” Jones continued. “Not specifically to the player you just mentioned or referring to that situation.”
Dallas acquired George Pickens from Pittsburgh in May 2025. On Aug. 29, the Cowboys sent 2027 third- and sixth-round picks to the Steelers for Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
The Cowboys also traded for defensive linemen Quinnen Williams, Rashan Gary, and Kenny Clark over the past 13 months, and they used first-round picks in April on Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. As part of the Williams trade with the New York Jets last November, Dallas sent the Jets the higher of its two 2027 first-round picks.
Joey Porter Jr. In Pittsburgh And The Dallas Cowboys Secondary
Pittsburgh selected Porter with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Penn State. The Steelers acquired that pick from the Chicago Bears in a November 2022 trade.
Porter played in all 17 games as a rookie and started 11. Over three seasons, he appeared in 47 games with 41 starts, according to the Steelers, and recorded 164 tackles, 31 passes defended, and 3 interceptions.
CBS Sports reported that the Steelers offered Porter a deal that would have paid him about $27 million per year and that he turned it down. When he spoke with reporters last week, Porter called the passing of his extension deadline “old news” and said he would play this season once he was healthy.
Cornerback Cobie Durant (hamstring), safety Malik Hooker (forearm), and safety P.J. Locke (foot) missed Sunday’s 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. Locke is on injured reserve. Safety Jalen Thompson hurt his hamstring in the second quarter, and the team said Monday that he is likely headed to injured reserve.
Cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. injured his right knee in the second half against Baltimore. Jones said Tuesday that the Cowboys do not yet know whether Revel is facing a multi-week absence.
The Cowboys (1-2) visit the Houston Texans on Sunday at noon CT.
