Details of Cowboys trade finalized after Week 6 game

When the Dallas Cowboys made a trade for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., it was seen as a sensible deal for all three parties involved. Porter thought that the work he had put in with the Pittsburgh Steelers warranted him being paid as one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. The Steelers disagreed, and then halted negotiations once the season started; a franchise edict they refuse to alter).

The Cowboys, thin on 2027 draft picks from prior trades, saw Porter's talent and one-year remaining on his rookie deal as equal to a high third-round pick, thus offering a 2028 second rounder with a sweetener. That sweetener was a conditional sixth-round pick in the '27 haul, and that condition was solidified on Sunday.

Joey Porter Jr. is active and the Cowboys’ sixth round pick in 2027 is now officially owned by the Steelers with this being the second game Porter is active https://t.co/TqG1mnN1H4

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 18, 2026

Porter had to play in at least two games for the Cowboys, a very small hurdle to clear but a necessary one considering his hold-in stance of having a back issue. Porter used the injury, much like Micah Parsons had against Dallas a year earlier, to escape true injury risk. It led to an in-season hold-in for Porter, and finally culminated with the Steelers deciding to move on.

There was risk in trading for Porter for Dallas, knowing the club requires acquisitions to perform for their roster before signing extensions. They've done it for every trade acquisition dating back to WR Amari Cooper in 2018 and most recently with DT Quinnen Williams. Dallas acquired Williams at the deadline last year, but didn't extend him until this offseason.

There's a shorter timeline with Porter being in the final year of his deal, but Dallas doesn't waver; they don't pay guaranteed money to players for work they've done for other franchises. It's the reason they rarely push the envelope in free agency.

As for Porter, despite his ankle injury moving him on and off the field, he certainly has been what Dallas could've hoped for.

While he was called for DPI for forcing a wideout out of bounds, his official ledger was spotless. Targeted four times (according to Pro Football Focus), he gave up zero catches and had two pass deflections. He chipped in with three tackles, including a tackle for loss.

He's on an island as the only secondary player who is excelling at the moment, with Dallas falling 23-13, making his acquisition an even bigger deal.