Jerry Jones delivered on his promise of aggression, landing a star cornerback. Now, Dallas must navigate a looming $30 million extension to keep him.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys, by virtue of their late-Wednesday blockbuster trade for star cornerback Joey Porter Jr, have a smile on their face.
And I’ve got egg on mine.
This is a trade I never believed was happening, but how I got it so wrong is a minor (except to me!) issue.
To Cowboys Nation, this is all about whether owner Jerry Jones and his front office - which has promised “aggressiveness’’ like this - got it right.
The Cowboys won this trade … and they’re going to win that argument, too.
Fish’s Five Takes on the deal …
1 - The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to trade Porter to Dallas, putitng a punctuation mark on Jones’ frequent hints and promises regarding a move like this.
Should we put more trust now in Jerry Jones?
Meanwhile ... What was the problem in Pittsburgh? They didn’t want to pay him what he believes represents his market value, which we can figure to be about $30 million APY.
Are the Cowboys prepared to pay him? Hang tight there …
2 - The price in terms of draft capital? Dallas is sending Pittsburgh a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder.
That last detail matters. … because it represents a massive steal.
The Cowboys managed to keep every premium pick they own in a 2027 class that has already generated considerable excitement among draft evaluators, while pushing the centerpiece of the return into 2028 — a class that remains much further from coming into focus.
I really thought the Steelers might eventually fold (to some bidder) and accept a2027 first-rounder. But Dallas doesn’t give up a first-rounder at all, and the premium pick that does go isn’t until 2028?
A massive steal.
3 - What's the future here?
Porter is in the final year of his rookie deal after extension talks with Pittsburgh failed to produce an agreement before the season.
Last week, he said those negotiations were behind him and shifted his focus toward getting healthy, while also making clear that he had not requested a trade.
But now he’s coming to The Star … amid word that Dallas is in no hurry to provide him with an extension.
Can they eventually afford to keep him while also trying to squeeze another ex-Steelers star, George Pickens, into the salary cap pie?
The general answer is yes, challenging as COO Stephen Jones will surely announce it will be.
Of course, if they don’t retain him? They’ll likely end up with a third-round compensatory pick. That’s a decent consolation prize … but generally (as with last year’s trade for Pickens), it makes more football and fiscal sense to “buy’’ the player rather than to “rent’’ him.
I believe the Cowboys agree with that.
4 - Does he fit?
Porter, 26, was selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after starring at Penn State.
He started 41 games over his first three seasons and recorded 31 passes defended with three interceptions, establishing himself as a fixture in the Steelers secondary. When it comes to the percentage of passes completed in his direction, he’s among the NFL’s best.
We can argue about “man’’ vs. “zone’’ and that sort of thing, but there’s no debate about Porter’s talent.
The next debate, though, is about rookie defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s ability to integrate Porter into the system … or, better, about bending the system to fit Porter.
5 - Is he healthy?
Dallas needed help in the secondary, where there exists an injury plague.
But …
Porter has yet to play this season because of a persistent back injury and was ruled out Wednesday for Pittsburgh’s upcoming game against Cleveland. It’s been suspected that not unlike Micah Parsons' case a year ago, the “back soreness’’ thing was a ruse, a negotiating ploy.
Micah’s back healed up pretty quickly once he was traded to the Packers. (And yes, Porter, like Parsons, is represented by agent David Mulugheta.)
I assume the Cowboys believe that Porter’s back will be fine … though there is a health/learning curve crunch here as Dallas is about to play two games in five games.
In the end, the Cowboys get credit for recognizing a need, for filling it in a major way, and for doing it without spoiling their premium 2027 draft capital intact.
I’m not feeling very good about my reporting on this subject, but at least I can say I’m feeling good for you about what your Cowboys just pulled off.
