Here’s Why Trade for Joey Porter Jr. Is Just More of the Same for Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys needed to improve their struggling defense, but trading for Joey Porter Jr. could create yet another contract headache.

by Craig Ellenport

Oct 1, 2026

Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Let me get this straight. Contract disputes with their star players have been an issue for the Dallas Cowboys for the last several years, and now the team has traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., a player that was available because… he’s in a contract dispute. Same old Cowboys.

After three summers of contract standoffs with quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons — with the latter being traded to the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2025 season — the summer of 2026 was surprisingly calm for Jerry Jones’ front office. They avoided a contract dispute by placing the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens, whom they acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year. While that move guaranteed Pickens $27.3 million this season, it also means he’ll be a free agent in 2027.

Without major contract headaches going into training camp, the Cowboys had high hopes for this season, believing that a full season with defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and the addition of highly touted rookie safety Caleb Downs was going to produce a much-improved defense and Dallas would be a playoff contender.

So far, not so good. The 1-2 Cowboys rank 30^th in total defense and 25^th in scoring defense. That’s why they gave the Steelers a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick in exchange for Porter.

Fair trade, and Porter will help this defense. But here’s the problem: Porter was available because he was already in a contract dispute. The Steelers couldn’t satisfy Porter’s demands for a contract extension with greater guaranteed money and the Steelers don’t negotiate during the season. Thus, he’ll be a free agent when the 2026 season ends — unless Dallas is willing to work on an extension in-season.

In other words, unless Dallas is willing to get into another complicated contract negotiation while the season in going on, Porter is a rental. Porter and Pickens both would be among many Cowboys that will be free agents in 2027. Is Porter enough to make a big difference this season? Maybe, but don’t expect immediate results.

While there have been reports that Porter can play as soon as this Sunday, the cornerback did not participate in training camp and has been inactive the first three weeks of the season. If the Cowboys lose Sunday on the road against a desperate Houston Texans squad, Dallas would fall to 1-3 and face an uphill battle if they want to reach the NFC title game for the first time in 31 years.

Same old Cowboys.