Pittsburgh Steelers Trade Joey Porter for 2 Draft Picks

The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded 26-year-old cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for two draft picks, according to multiple sources. The deal was first reported by Tom Pelissero on Wednesday night and later confirmed by the NFL. Pittsburgh will receive a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick from Dallas for the trade.

The Dallas Cowboys had shown interest in acquiring Porter, along with the Detroit Lions, who had been in contact with Pittsburgh about him. The Lions were reportedly making progress in trade discussions with the Steelers earlier in September. However, the exact level of the offer Detroit made for Porter is unknown.

Joey Porter Jr. has not played this season due to a back issue and conditioning concerns. Nevertheless, the Dallas Cowboys are confident in his abilities, as he started 41 games during his first three NFL seasons and recorded 31 pass defensed and three interceptions over that span. He also posted a career-high 14 pass defensed in 2025.

In return, Porter is in the final year of his rookie contract with Pittsburgh, where he and the team were unable to agree on an extension. The Cowboys are acquiring Porter without an immediate long-term contract. For the Lions, the trade provides a market price for Bradley Holmes to evaluate, and the team may decide not to pursue another significant piece due to the cost involved.