By admin 
The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t exactly happy about trading Joey Porter Jr.Porter reportedly forced his way out, and the Steelers suddenly saw a once-deep cornerback room look much thinner after Thursday night’s loss. Pittsburgh still has capable cornerbacks on the roster, but can this group hold up for the long haul? That’s a question general manager Omar Khan can’t afford to get wrong.
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“If they continue to struggle and they’re still in it by late October, then yes, certainly making a move for a corner from another team, a starter, is certainly in play,”
Steelers Already Monitoring the Cornerback Market
Pittsburgh has already been involved in the cornerback market beyond trading Porter. During the preseason, the Steelers reportedly reached out to the Green Bay Packers about Carrington Valentine. That’s the only confirmed inquiry so far, but it almost certainly wasn’t the only one. There aren’t many starting-caliber cornerbacks available, though.
Charvarius Ward could become another option if the Colts continue to lose games. While Indianapolis won’t recoup the exact capital the Steelers received in the Sauce Gardner trade, any draft compensation could be welcome if the team’s season starts to unravel. Rock Ya-Sin was also a trade candidate at one point, but the Detroit Lions were reportedly interested in trading for Porter, so a deal involving Ya-Sin wouldn’t necessarily make sense. However, if those rumors resurface, Ya-Sin has familiarity with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham after playing for him in 2022.
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Khan Should Act Sooner Than Late October
Ultimately, the Steelers should act sooner rather than later. Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr., and Daylen Everette can get the job done for a few weeks. Maybe Everette continues to develop and takes advantage of his opportunities this season. However, he’s a rookie third-round pick, and relying on him as a long-term starter isn’t the best strategy.
Samuel has been solid, but he’s struggled against more physical receivers. Pittsburgh needs more proven depth if it wants to make a serious playoff push.
Porter isn’t coming back to help this secondary like the Steelers originally expected. Khan needs to make a plan, and he needs to make it quickly.
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This story was originally published October 4, 2026 at 1:30 PM.