Pockets of NFL fans were surprised to learn upon waking up on Thursday morning that the Pittsburgh Steelers had agreed to trade unsettled cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 sixth-round draft pick and a 2028 second-rounder.
While Porter’s existing contract expires after the ongoing season, previous comments made by Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones suggested that Jones would be willing to lock Porter down via a multiyear deal after completing a trade for the 26-year-old’s services.
For a piece published on Thursday morning, NFL insider Dan Graziano of ESPN shared an interesting update on Porter’s contract situation.
Have the Cowboys made a final decision about Joey Porter Jr.’s extension?
“According to my sources, the Cowboys did not make this trade contingent upon a contract extension for Porter, and they do not plan to extend him during this season,” Graziano wrote. “So he goes into the same bucket as (wide receiver) George Pickens, (linebacker) DeMarvion Overshown, and anyone else on the Cowboys’ roster who is eligible for free agency at the end of this season.”
The Cowboys retained Pickens’ rights for 2026 via the franchise tag worth roughly $27.3M, and Jones seemingly is open to using that asset on Pickens again next year. While some may say that the Cowboys couldn’t hold onto both Pickens and Porter beyond this season for reasons related to the salary cap, history shows a club can find creative ways to get around such issues for a campaign when it is interested in doing so.
“It’s always possible plans change, and they extend a player in-season, but given the Cowboys’ recent history with these situations, it’s unlikely we see that unless the deal is very much on the team’s terms,” Graziano continued. “If Porter is looking to maximize his value and get top-of-market cornerback money, the strong likelihood is that he needs to play this season out and try to get that on the free agent market next offseason. The Cowboys also would, of course, be able to use the franchise or transition tag to keep him off the market, though they can only do that with one player per year — and as I mentioned, they will have several choices.”
How would Joey Porter Jr. feel about playing for the Cowboys without an extension?
Porter didn’t play for the Steelers over the season’s first three weeks due to an alleged back issue that many assume was related to his desire for a contract extension. He reportedly could make his Dallas debut when the 1-2 Cowboys play at the 0-3 Houston Texans this coming Sunday.
“It’s also worth noting that Porter’s agent, David Mulugheta, is the same agent who represents Pickens, Overshown and several other Cowboys (plus Micah Parsons, who got traded from Dallas to Green Bay last year after an ugly contract standoff),” Graziano added. “So it’s fair to assume Porter and his agent are well aware of the Cowboys’ plans and their expectation that he’ll play for them even in the absence of a new deal.”
For now, the Cowboys’ trade for Porter is seen as an all-in move regarding Jones’ pursuit of a Super Bowl title. Perhaps Jones will ultimately view Porter as a short-term rental if Dallas emerges as the last team standing this coming February.
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