The Pittsburgh Steelers finally found a top-tier cornerback through the NFL Draft, so when trade whispers arrived, the last thing fans wanted to hear was that teams could come calling for Porter's services.
On Thursday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that multiple teams around the NFL have wondered about Porter as a potential trade target. While the 'trade buzz' could all prove to be a negotiation tactic from his agency, we've heard for quite some time now that the two parties aren't close on contract talks.
Porter wants to be paid like a top-of-the-market CB, and the Steelers may not be willing to budge. If this standstill continues, a trade isn't out of the question.
Trading Porter would run counter to the team's objective of trying to make a run in 2026, so I don't see anything ultimately materializing. However, if worse came to worst and Porter forced their hand (Ã la Micah Parsons with Dallas last August), it wouldn't be all bad news. There are four quiet ways the Steelers could wind up winners if they ultimately elect to trade their top cornerback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could wind up winners in a potential Joey Porter Jr. trade for these four reasons
1. The Steelers would get high draft capital in a Porter trade
It doesn't make a ton of sense to trade a budding star in the prime of his NFL career, only to hope to get someone of equal value later in the draft (which we know is a gamble). But landing high draft capital in return for Porter could make the ache go away quickly, at least come next April.
Last year, we witnessed the Colts trade a pair of first-round picks for All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. Porter is two years older than Gardner and doesn't have the accolades, but teams respect his game. We might be looking at a second- plus a third- or fourth-round pick in a potential Porter trade (and perhaps some team would be willing to go as high as a first).
This would give the Steelers excellent draft capital next season to rebuild the future of their roster in the post-Aaron Rodgers era or give them the firepower to move up for a quarterback.
2. The Steelers would save loads of money
Right now, Joey Porter Jr. is only costing $4.922 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season (the final year of his rookie contract). This accounts for a mere 1.5 percent of the team's total cap space, per Over the Cap. But this number is about to skyrocket.
Porter is seeking $30-plus million per season, and if he gets his way, his contract will be third behind only T.J. Watt and DK Metcalf next season (while possibly exceeding Metcalf's average annual value). Therefore, the savings by trading Porter would be notable.
After displacement (adding another player to help fill his roster spot), we could be looking at the Steelers saving as much as $25 million per season by not having to hand Porter a massive new deal. This is money that can be used to re-sign other players on the team or even go after a high-profile free agent next March.
3. A Porter trade would give the Steelers a reason to play Asante Samuel Jr. and Daylen Everette
There's no question that the Steelers' secondary would not be as good without Porter. But in the same breath, fans have been scratching their heads trying to think about how defensive coordinator Patrick Graham can get cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr. and third-round rookie Daylen Everette on the field this season. A Porter trade could be the answer.
Samuel, a former second-round pick of the Chargers, played out of his mind this summer and had a stunning preseason opener. He looks every bit the part of a starting NFL cornerback. Meanwhile, Everette has quietly impressed the coaching staff with his tenacity and ability in run support.
Neither player can be a one-for-one replacement for Porter, but they would both be given the opportunity to shine.
4. The Steelers could avoid a dreaded JPJ cornerback slump
Due to the nature of the cornerback position, it's hard to play with much consistency from play to play, week to week, or even year to year. We've even seen excellent players and All-Pros like Pat Surtain II and Sauce Gardner take a step back recently. The same can happen to Porter.
Though his 2025 season was excellent, as he proved to be one of the league's top shutdown corners, his 2024 campaign was concerning. What if Porter reverts to the grabiness that caused all of the penalties in his second NFL season? Or what if he doesn't look as impressive as he did this year?
The Steelers could avoid the high risk of the contract for a high-variance cornerback who could revert back to some of his old ways. And with Porter 'holding in' for practically the entire offseason, there's plenty of reason to believe that he could take a step back in 2026.
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