Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys just dropped a 2027 sixth-rounder and a 2028 second-round pick on the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to Arlington. That’s a pretty steep price for a mid-season pickup, especially when you consider what they’re hoping for here. This isn’t just a personnel upgrade, it’s a bet on potential that Jones explicitly compared to their 2025 deal for wide receiver George Pickens.
Jerry Jones is Chasing That George Pickens Magic Again
Jones laid it all out during his Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, saying he hopes Porter Jr. “really can find his level” in Dallas. He went as far as to say he “would hope it would mirror maybe the George Pickens move that brought him in.” Remember Pickens? There was a reported split with Steelers leadership before he landed in Dallas, where he then went on to have the best season of his career in 2025. That’s a huge bar to set, but Jones made it clear, “you have to have ’em to make a trade like this.” Porter Jr. is another disgruntled former Steelers player, and he felt disrespected by failed extension talks with them before the trade. You can see why Jones is connecting the dots, but replicating that kind of turnaround is no joke.
“Win-Now” Mentality and a Thin Secondary
This trade is a massive statement of intent from the Cowboys, especially after their 1-2 start to the season. Quarterback Dak Prescott nailed it when he said it means a lot “to make a win-now trade.” He sees it as the “whole organization” being “on the same page” and was thankful for owners “making those decisions and not waiting.” Jones absolutely agreed with Prescott, stating, “It is a belief in where we are and what we can do right now.” The problem is, they’re already paying a hefty price on the draft board. After this move, the Cowboys are only set to pick four times in the 2027 draft. Meanwhile, the Steelers are sitting pretty with nine picks, including three that initially belonged to Dallas, per Tankathon. Plus, this move screams desperation given their injury-thinned secondary, with cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Shavon Revel Jr. missing practice all week due to injuries.
But here’s the kicker: Porter Jr. himself is still looking to make his season debut. He sat out the Steelers’ first three games with what the team called a back injury. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said in his own radio appearance that the Cowboys are “hoping” Porter can play Sunday, but they’ll wait to see how he feels after Friday’s practice. That’s a lot of hope riding on a guy who’s been out for three weeks and hasn’t played a down this season.
The Cowboys are heading out for a Sunday afternoon road game against the winless Houston Texans. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET in Houston. All eyes will be on whether Porter Jr. can even suit up and, if he does, if he can deliver on the immense expectations Jones has for him right out of the gate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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