Time appears to have run out on Joey Porter Jr. as it relates to his contract situation. Porter, the Steelers' veteran cornerback, was hoping to get an extension prior to the start of the 2026 season. That has yet to happen, however, which has led to growing speculation about his future in Pittsburgh.
It is unlikely that Porter will play in Pittsburgh's season opener against the Falcons, according to ESPN, which also reports that Porter could be traded. Porter, who has been dealing with a back injury this summer, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. No serious trade talks have developed despite the Steelers reportedly listening to offers.
Their reported asking price for Porter -- a premium draft pick that could possibly be a first-round pick -- has likely scared teams off. At some point, however, the Steelers may lower their asking price if Porter sits out the season. Regardless, it's clear that Porter will not get a new deal in Pittsburgh this year as the Steelers have a long-standing tradition of not negotiating contracts once the regular season starts.
Here's a rundown of some of Porter's possible landing spots if he is traded this season. Dallas makes sense on several fronts, starting with the fact that Porter would complement what the Cowboys already have in the secondary. Porter could serve as a mentor of sorts for first-round pick Caleb Downs.
The Cowboys, who have been in spending mode since trading Micah Parsons last summer, have a considerable amount of cap space and could make a move to acquire Porter if they were inclined to do so. Making this even more logical is the fact that Jerry Jones and Steelers GM Omar Khan have a history of working out significant trades. Speaking of Jones, the Cowboys' 83-year-old owner is desperate to end Dallas' championship drought, which is now at 31 years.
That, coupled with the fact that Jones loves making splashy trades, makes this scenario even more logical. Chicago's pass defense was one of its biggest weaknesses in 2025, and based on how it currently looks, that may well be the case for 2026 unless the Bears do something soon. The Bears spent a high draft pick on safety Dillon Thieneman, but he alone won't help make up for the current injuries the unit is dealing with.
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