After failing to secure a new contract with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers is up in the air. Right now, he is on the roster and working his way back from a back injury that has been nagging him during his relatively uneventful contract negotiations.
With the organization's deadline of no negotiating during the season now in place, there have been countless trade rumors starting to circulate around Porter.
It would be a shame to see a franchise icon's son—who is a strong player in his own right—leave town after negotiations broke down. Who knows what each side proposed in talks, but a new deal wasn't struck, and it might not happen.
If Pittsburgh truly wants to compete this season, they should hold onto Porter. That said, if the young cornerback demands a trade, their hands could be tied. There are six realistic trade suitors.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have six realistic trade destinations for star CB Joey Porter Jr.
Detroit Lions
One of the top spots in the rumor mill surrounding Joey Porter Jr. is the Detroit Lions. They could use some help at the cornerback position and aren't afraid to make big swings. The Lions are coming off a down year, but they will want to jump back into the contending conversation this season. Pittsburgh should be asking a high price, as the Lions will be one of the better teams this season.
Green Bay Packers
There was speculation earlier in the summer that the Green Bay Packers had talks with the Steelers to potentially land Joey Porter Jr. in a trade. That deal could always be brought back into focus with one phone call. The issue is that Green Bay doesn't have a first-round pick to offer, and the rumored player Pittsburgh could get in return, Keisean Nixon, isn't enough to get this trade accomplished.
Dallas Cowboys
Another hot team who could consider dealing for Porter is none other than the Dallas Cowboys.
Moving the young cornerback to one of the Steelers' biggest rivals in franchise history would be a bitter pill to swallow. With that all being said, both Pittsburgh and Dallas have made a couple of trades in recent years. Factor in the draft capital Dallas has to offer, and they could make sense.
New York Jets
This is the year when New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn must show his team is improving, so that could lead to desperation. Maybe the Steelers couldn't pry away a first-round pick from the Jets, but they could potentially get a high-end second-round pick. The Jets aren't anticipated to be a good team this season, which means that second-round selection could be near the top of that round.
New Orleans Saints
Sending Joey Porter Jr. over to the NFC might be the safest bet if the Steelers do trade him. The Saints could make sense, but that could come back to haunt them when they face off against New Orleans in Paris later this season. The Saints are a team on the rise with a shot at winning a weak division, which could get them to try and gamble with a quick fix to their growing defense.
San Francisco 49ers
Here is a trade destination for Porter where he could have a shot at winning a Super Bowl over the next several years. His potential contract extension with the 49ers could complicate their cap situation, but for the most part, they could probably swing it. The Steelers would be doing right by Porter by sending him to San Francisco, even if their trade offer might not be super enticing.
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