By admin 
The New York Giants’ hopes of acquiring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. took a massive hit this week, thanks to the trade for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
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With only five picks in the upcoming NFL draft and only six picks in the 2028 entry draft at the moment, the Giants likely can’t afford to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers’ reported asking price for the disgruntled cornerback.
But that’s not going to stop Giants fans from dreaming, especially amid the rumors that the Giants have engaged with Steelers brass about the fourth-year defensive back. Porter has not yet played this season due to a back injury but is expected to make his season debut Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns.
The Case for Acquiring Joey Porter Jr.
The Giants have been besieged by injuries, especially to their secondary. The Giants have been without their starting cornerbacks, Deonte Banks and Paulson Adebo, for each of the past two games, forcing rookie second-round pick Colton Hood into action.
Porter fits the Giants’ man-heavy coverage scheme. He’s not afraid of contact, averaging 60 tackles per 17 games over his first three seasons, while picking off exactly one pass per year and recording 14 passes defended last season.
The Giants pass defense is about their only defensive flaw, but it is one that will continually be exposed in 2026 if they don’t make some adjustments, especially if the Giants’ pass rush doesn’t improve. The Giants have only one sack in three games and lost edge rusher Brian Burns for the season with a torn ACL.
Coach John Harbaugh can mortgage the future for the present, since the NFC is up for grabs. The Giants are tied for first place in the NFC East, and the rival Eagles and Cowboys can be had. The Los Angeles Rams, the overwhelming preseason Super Bowl favorite, are 1-2 — and could be 1-3 after playing the Eagles on Sunday.
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Plus, it’s not like it’ll cost a first-round pick to land Porter. It may cost only a Day 2 pick and a Day 3 pick, though the Giants would then need to make him one of the league’s highest-paid cornerbacks.
The Giants Likely Can’t Afford Joey Porter Jr.
Harbaugh is 64 years old and wants to win now, even though he has a five-year contract.
But even though they are ahead of schedule in Harbaugh’s first year, this is still the very beginning of the Giants’ window. Add the injuries to Adebo, Banks, Brian Burns and quarterback Jaxson Dart create a lower ceiling this year — though McCarthy’s acquisition to potentially replace Dart could have a positive impact.
So if the New York media found giving a fifth-round pick for McCarthy “reckless” and “desperate,” then dealing a second-round pick and one of their sixth-round picks for Porter would seem that way as well, even if the Giants recouped the Steelers’ fourth-round pick in exchange.
But that package also may not be enough to land Porter, since the Cowboys and Lions are reportedly in the hunt to land the cornerback. Banks and Adebo will be back at some point, and even though Porter raise the competition level, going into the 2027 draft with just four picks is a dicey spot for the Giants.
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This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 6:34 AM.