Joey Porter Jr. is officially a Dallas Cowboy, traded from Pittsburgh for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick, and dude is buzzing about it. Imagine chilling, watching a Brad Pitt movie at 11:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night, when your agent drops the news. Porter Jr. himself said he was “excited,” had to leave the movie, and was just “blessed” by the whole thing. New chapter, new beginnings, that’s what he’s all about now.
From Steelers Draft Pick to Unhappy Star
So, how in the world did a player like Porter Jr. even become available? This is a guy who led the *entire NFL* in passer rating against as the primary defender in coverage back in 2025. We’re talking a ridiculous 49.1 passer rating allowed, and that’s out of 128 players who had at least 60 pass attempts thrown their way. And his 48.1% career completion percentage allowed? That’s the fourth-lowest in the league since he came in back in 2023. These are elite numbers, folks! The Steelers drafted him with the first pick of the second round in 2023, but it sounds like they didn’t exactly show him the love. Porter Jr. is in the final year of his rookie deal this season (2026), and after putting up those kinds of stats for three years, he felt he earned a long-term contract. But guess what? Negotiations broke down.
And get this: the contract drama just happened to coincide with his back flaring up, which made him miss the first three games of the 2026 season. Porter Jr. says he did absolutely everything the Steelers coaches and trainers asked him to do, whether that was on the field or off to the side. He even thought he had a shot to play in their “Thursday Night Football” game against the Cleveland Browns, but Pittsburgh ruled him out Wednesday. He hinted the decision not to play was “more on his end,” which, you know, makes you wonder if the contract stalemate was weighing heavy.
Dallas Gets a Star, Porter Jr. Gets a Fresh Start
Now in Dallas, it’s a completely different vibe for Porter Jr. He’s had “great chats” with the Cowboys coaching staff and is “feeling valued.” You can’t put a price on that, especially when you’re performing at an all-pro level. He’s ready to hit the field without the security of a long-term deal, fired up to prove his worth to his new team. And that back that was flaring up? He says it’s “feeling better.” When asked about the whole process, Porter Jr. didn’t pull any punches. He admitted, “Definitely, definitely. It was a hard process, a lot of ups and downs. Definitely felt disrespected and undervalued.” But that’s old news for him now. He’s “onto new beginnings and new chapters,” and happy to be a Cowboy. You love to hear a guy get a fresh start and feel appreciated. Even Dak Prescott was out there welcoming him at practice!
So, will Porter Jr. suit up for Week 4? That’s the big question. With his back feeling better and him feeling valued, Dallas could be getting a major defensive boost right when they need it. This could be a huge grab for the Cowboys, and it’ll be exciting to see him ball out in Dallas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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