While much of the talk surrounding the Steelers has been backup quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar, the focus on Monday shifted to another player who has been notably absent this summer.
Joey Porter Jr. has been present during Steelers’ practices, but the veteran cornerback has yet to practice as he is hoping to land a new contract. Coach Mike McCarthy said that the team is at an “impasse” with Porter, who is also on the team’s physically unbale to perform list after aggravating his back during the team’s mobility test on the first day of training camp.
Along with Porter, fellow defensive back Jalen Ramsey also missed training camp as he was dealing with a knee injury. Ramsey, who was taken off the team’s PUP list on Monday, feels that it’s time something got done with regard to Porter’s contract. The Steelers’ unofficial deadline to get something done with Porter is September 13, when they host the Falcons in Week 1.
“We need the whole secondary out there,” Ramsey said, via ESPN. “They got to pay Joey Porter, and we need got some other guys that are out as well. So, the secondary has not been out there together yet, so I can’t answer that for you.”
At this point, it’s more likely that Porter remains in Pittsburgh through 2026. But if that were to change, here’s a look at some of the possible landing spots for Porter.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas makes sense on several fronts, starting with the fact that Porter would complement what the Cowboys already have in the secondary. Porter could serve as a mentor of sorts for first-round pick Caleb Downs.
The Cowboys, who have been in spending mode since trading Micah Parsons last summer, have a considerable amount of cap space and could make a move to acquire Porter if they were inclined to do so. Making this even more logical is the fact that Jerry Jones and Steelers GM Omar Khan have a history of working out significant trades.
Speaking of Jones, the Cowboys’ 83-year-old owner is desperate to end Dallas’ championship drought, which is now at 31 years. That, coupled with the fact that Jones loves making splashy trades, makes this scenario even more logical.
Chicago Bears
Chicago’s pass defense was one of its biggest weaknesses in 2025, and based on how it currently looks, that may well be the case for 2026 unless the Bears do something soon. The Bears spent a high draft pick on safety Dillon Thieneman, but he alone won’t help make up for the current injuries the unit is dealing with. Starting safety Coby Bryant (knee) and starting nickelback Kyler Gordon (calf) are currently dealing with injuries.
It goes without saying that Porter’s arrival in Chicago would strengthen the team’s Super Bowl aspirations. Adding to the likelihood of this scenario is that Khan and Bears GM Ryan Poles have a history of making notable transactions.
Carolina Panthers
The Steelers could trade Porter to a team that also has an interesting situation with one of their cornerbacks. Veteran cornerback Mike Jackson is entering the final year of a two-year, $10.5 million deal. Jackson outperformed his contract last season and is likely looking for a better deal for 2026 and beyond.
In this scenario, it’s possible that the two teams could swap cornerbacks. The Steelers would be getting an adequate and cheaper replacement for Porter, while the Panthers would have one of the league’s best cornerback duos in Porter and Jaycee Horn, who, like Porter, is the son of a notable former NFL player.
Pittsburgh would also be getting something else (likely a draft pick) in this scenario, given Porter’s stature as one of the league’s top young cornerbacks.
New York Giants
The Giants‘ have heightened expectations this season that are likely buoyed by John Harbaugh’s offseason arrival. But if New York really wants to have realistic hopes of competing in 2026, they need to strengthen a few areas of their team, which includes the secondary.
Porter’s addition would be a big boost for the Giants, who play in a division that includes opposing quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Jayden Daniels. Harbaugh, who coached against Porter the previous three seasons, knows firsthand how disruptive Porter can be for an opposing offense.
New Orleans Saints
Like the Panthers and Giants, the Saints are another NFC team that is looking to take the next step in 2026. After a slow start, the Saints enjoyed a strong finish to the 2025 season, including four straight wins under new coach Kelln Moore.
The Saints could use a player of Porter’s caliber in their secondary to increase their odds of winning what is the NFL’s most wide-open division. With that in mind, it’s possible that Saints veteran GM Mickey Loomis could work something out with Khan — a New Orleans native whose first NFL job was with the Saints — if he feels that Porter can help the Saints snap their five-year playoff drought.
Green Bay Packers
Yet another NFC team with high expectations that is looking to separate itself from the pack (pun intended). The Packers showed last year that they are willing to swing big when they traded for Parsons. It’s worth wondering whether Green Bay is considering a similar move now to add another notable player to its defense.
Like the Steelers, the Packers are a franchise that measures itself only by championships. After falling short in the playoffs once again in 2025, the Packers are desperate to make a serious playoff push in 2026. That’s why the Packers should be considered as a legitimate landing spot if Porter ends up on the trading block.
