If I had a nickel for every time the Dallas Cowboys made a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers that resulted in the Cowboys finding a potential franchise cornerstone, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice, right? And this is the second time in as many years.
Last season, George Pickens broke out after coming over to Dallas from Pittsburgh, and this season, Joey Porter Jr. is the one validating Jerry Jones' decision-making. It was a risky play to send a 2028 second-rounder to the Steelers in exchange for a CB in a contract year, but fortune favors the bold.
Thankfully, early returns suggest this has been a great move. While Porter Jr. has been limited to just three games with America's Team, the play we've seen from him suggests that, despite this team's many issues on defense, he's been as advertised as the shutdown CB1 fans were hoping for.
According to Pro Football Focus, JPJ has allowed the lowest completion percentage among all corners with a minimum of 75 coverage snaps played in 2026 (22.2%). Opposing QBs are scared to throw at him, and he's done an admirable job at taking WR1s out of the game these last few weeks.
Dallas Cowboys have no reason to regret the Joey Porter Jr. trade
Joey Porter Jr. has been targeted just nine times this year, in which he's surrendered just two catches for 10 yards, has forced several other incompletions, and has allowed a 39.6 passer rating when targeted.
He's been so lockdown this year that all he's given up is two five-yard out routes--and even with how elite he's been, he's mad about that.
“Two little 5-yard outs or whatever. I’m pissed about it," Porter Jr. told The Athletic's Jon Machota. "As a DB, you never want to give up anything. I really hold myself to a high standard when I’m on the field. I definitely don’t want to give up any passes to anybody I don’t think I should be giving up passes to.”
Here's what else we need to remember: if the Cowboys had never made this trade, they'd have been stuck with DaRon Bland as their CB1, and given how horrible he's been in coverage this season, having him face the opposing team's best receiver every week would have ended horribly.
The 26-year-old Porter Jr. has been sensational, which has made life on easier on Bland and the rest of the secondary. It means Shavon Revel Jr. and Cobie Durant are depth options instead of being relied upon on an every-down basis, which gives Christian Parker more to work with on the backend.
If you needed any more proof that this deal was a complete heist for Dallas, Jordan Schultz reported that after trading the former second-round pick, the Steelers are looking for cornerback help at the trade deadline. So, it's become clear they regret dealing away their top corner instead of paying him.
And while they're going to have to pay him a pretty penny on a new extension--or franchise tag him-- after the season, the Cowboys should have no issues doing so with Porter Jr. because he's looked every bit like the long-term CB1 they were looking for, which has helped them fleece the Steelers.
At this point, Jerry Jones should only make trades with Omar Khan.
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