It may not be until April 2028 that the Pittsburgh Steelers will feel the brunt of CB Joey Porter Jr.’s return, but many around the NFL believe they got the better side of the trade. In a Saturday morning column for The Athletic, NFL insider Jonathan Jones writes that many people around the league believe Dallas paid too much to acquire Porter.
“Many people around the league thought Dallas was overpaid, largely because teams did not view Porter as a top corner,” Jones wrote.
Jones spoke to an executive who responded, “They were bidding against themselves. »
Dallas sent a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round selection to land Porter, who has not signed and is not expected to sign a contract extension anytime soon. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Cowboys manager Stephen Jones said the Steelers’ initial asking price was “a little high” but that continued negotiations had lowered the yield. Probably in part because Pittsburgh wanted to trade Porter after he opted out against the Cleveland Browns with a back injury.
Jones laid out the league’s thinking. Although Khan may have to wait 18 months to use that second round, his job security makes that more palatable. Khan is unlikely to be fired by Art Rooney II and a franchise that has little turnover at the top — four head coaches since 1969 and two general managers since 2000. That creates a different feel than a general manager under pressure to win now, with the chance of not even having the job by the time that pick comes around.
Jones also notes that Khan may not need to wait until 2028 to put this selection to good use.
“But no one is stopping Khan from using his 2028 second-rounder as ammunition in next year’s draft, or even before the Nov. 10 trade deadline to help the 2026 Steelers,” he wrote.
It remains to be seen whether Khan will use this selection to facilitate a trade much sooner. But it’s an option on the table to give him more flexibility. The future pick also increases the chances that Pittsburgh will have deeper draft classes, similar to the team’s 10 selections in 2026, providing a chance to continue adding youth to a relatively old roster.
From Dallas’ perspective, the 2028 selection is blunted by the possibility of receiving a third-round compensatory pick if he leaves in free agency. Of course, if the Cowboys re-sign him, that means he played well and giving up that future second will be worth it.
Ultimately, what matters is what Khan and the Steelers do with their newly acquired picks. Just as George Pickens was effectively transformed into QB Drew Allar, the results of the trade will be one way to judge the quality of the deal. Even though Dallas has received higher trade grades from many media outlets, not everyone is convinced the Cowboys ripped off the Steelers.
Gn sports
