By admin 
The Dallas Cowboys are making a major move to address their secondary.
The Cowboys are finalizing a trade to acquire Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. The deal comes after Porter and the Steelers failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.
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The compensation heading back to Pittsburgh was not immediately reported.
Porter has been one of the biggest names on the NFL trade market over the past several weeks, with Dallas among the teams known to have shown interest in the former second-round pick Now, the Cowboys appear to have landed him.
Cowboys finally get their cornerback
The timing of the move is significant for Dallas.
The Cowboys have dealt with a series of injuries in their secondary through the first three games of the season, including Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant. Dallas also recently signed cornerback Alex Austin as the team searched for additional depth.
Porter gives Dallas considerably more than just depth, he gives them a CB1.
The 26-year-old cornerback was selected by Pittsburgh with the first pick of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft and quickly established himself as an important part of the Steelers’ defense.
Dallas had been linked to Porter throughout the week, with reports indicating the Cowboys and Steelers had discussed a potential deal but had struggled to find common ground on compensation.
That hurdle has now apparently been cleared.
For a Cowboys defense dealing with injuries, adding a proven outside corner could significantly change the team’s options in the secondary.
Porter brings size and physicality to Dallas
Porter’s arrival also gives the Cowboys another physical presence on the outside.
At 6-foot-2, Porter has the size and length to match up with bigger receivers and has developed a reputation as an aggressive press-man corner during his time in Pittsburgh.
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His Steelers tenure, however, ended with plenty of uncertainty.
Porter did not play during Pittsburgh’s first three games of the season after dealing with a back issue and a contract situation. He had previously said he had not requested a trade and was focused on returning to the field.
Now, he’ll reportedly get a fresh start in Dallas.
The Cowboys have made it clear throughout the week that they were willing to explore the trade market for defensive help. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones acknowledged Tuesday that Dallas had conversations occurring around potential roster additions, although he stopped short of discussing Porter specifically because of tampering concerns.
Cowboys make their biggest move yet
Dallas entered the week following a 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but the bigger concern coming coming out of the game was the growing list of defensive injuries.
The Cowboys have already lost multiple defensive starters and now have another major piece to add to the mix.
Porter’s arrival could give Dallas the type of boundary corner it has been searching for while allowing the coaching staff to move other defensive backs into more comfortable roles.
The Cowboys still have plenty to fix defensively, particularly after allowing 378 total yards and 192 rushing yards against Baltimore.
But with Porter now headed to Dallas, the Cowboys have made a significant statement about their willingness to address the problem.
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And this time, the Cowboys didn’t just talk about making a move.
They made one.
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This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 9:07 PM.