The Dallas Cowboys are swapping two draft picks for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., with the trade reported by the AP through anonymous sources. Pittsburgh will receive a sixth-round pick in 2027 and a second-round pick in 2028, according to two people with knowledge of the deal who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams had not announced it.
Porter has been inactive all three games this season for the Steelers. The 26-year-old, a second-round pick out of Penn State in the 2023 draft, has been inactive due to a back issue and a contract dispute with Steelers management over a new deal. He was seeking an extension as he entered the final year of his rookie agreement.
Porter’s Dispute With Pittsburgh
The back issue is real. Porter has missed significant time this season, and the contract stalemate with Steelers management made his status more complicated. The team has not publicly commented on the deal beyond the trade itself.
What Dallas Gives Up
Dallas sends two picks to Pittsburgh. The 2027 sixth-round pick and the 2028 second-round pick are the full package, per the people with knowledge of the deal.
The Cowboys are also dealing with other injuries in the secondary. Safety Jalen Thompson went on injured reserve earlier Wednesday with a hamstring injury, though he received a designation to return. That means he can come back later in the season.
Dallas Already Missing Locke
Dallas was already missing safety P.J. Locke, who is on injured reserve with a torn plantar fascia. Locke was an offseason acquisition, part of the retooling of the secondary. His absence is one of several injuries the Cowboys have faced this season.
Locke’s injury is separate from Thompson’s, and both were added during the offseason to strengthen the defense. Now the Cowboys have lost two safeties to injury.
Porter’s Penn State Roots
Porter was a second-round pick out of Penn State in the 2023 draft. He is a fourth-year pro.
His contract dispute with Steelers management began before the season started. The team has not publicly addressed the details of the disagreement, but the fact that Porter has been inactive for all three games suggests the issue was unresolved until now.
The Trade Sequence
The trade sequence is straightforward. Pittsburgh will receive the two picks, and Porter will join the Cowboys.
The trade has not been announced by either team. The people with knowledge of the deal spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, meaning the official word has not come yet.
| Trade Details | Dallas | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Draft picks | Sent two picks | Received two picks |
| 2027 pick | Sixth round | — |
| 2028 pick | Second round | — |
| Player moved | Porter | — |
| Status | Not announced | Not announced |
The Secondary Picture
The Cowboys have been adding depth all season. They signed three defensive backs to their practice squad on Wednesday, along with the Porter trade.
The additions give Dallas options in the secondary. The team has been working to replace key contributors, and the practice squad signings add depth behind the starters.
| Defensive Back Situation | Player | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Starting safeties | Locke (torn plantar fascia) | On IR |
| Starting safeties | Thompson (hamstring) | On IR, designation to return |
| Cornerback | Porter | Traded from Steelers |
| Practice squad | Three DBs | Signed Wednesday |
The Trade’s Risk and Reward
Porter is a fourth-year pro. He has not played this season due to his back issue and the contract dispute, but he remains a talented player with experience at the NFL level.
The Cowboys are getting a cornerback who has been inactive for all three games this season. That is the risk. The reward is a player who was a second-round pick out of Penn State and has shown ability in his previous seasons.
The Bottom Line
The Cowboys are betting on a player who has not played this season. Porter’s back issue and the contract dispute have kept him out of action, and the trade sends him to Dallas with two picks moving the other way.
Dallas is adding depth in the secondary. The practice squad signings and the Porter trade together give the team more options as they navigate injuries.
The trade is pending. The official announcement could come at any time. Until then, the deal stands as a move by Dallas to strengthen a position that has been hit hard by injuries.
The Cowboys have dealt two picks for a cornerback who has not played this season. That is the trade, and it is the story. The question now is whether Porter can get healthy and contribute to a Dallas team that has lost two safeties to injury.
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