One Trade Cowboys Should Make To Address Cornerback Concerns Before Preseason Ends

The arrow is pointing up for the Dallas Cowboys at cornerback, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't still be exploring their options, both in the trade and free-agent markets.

Cobie Durant has been excellent in practice, but there's a reason why he only garnered a $4 million contract and it isn't because he's a top-flight starter.

Meanwhile, the jury is still out on both DaRon Bland, who has been injured and ineffective in recent years, and Shavon Revel, who had struggles during his rookie campaign but has come on strong this offseason.

If the Cowboys really want to shore up the cornerback position, there is one trade in particular they should be exploring.

One cornerback trade Cowboys should make

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) observes training camp drills at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Cowboys need to put in a call to the Pittsburgh Steelers about cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

The 26-year-old, who is currently on the PUP list with a back injury, doesn't appear to be close to a new deal with Pittsburgh, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

“They saw nothing of this guy in the spring. They’re not gonna see anything of him in the preseason, so I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Dulac said on 102.5 WDVE. “That’s not to even mention his contract difficulties. They’re talking to him, but they’re nowhere near signing Joey Porter Jr."

"Is he going to go into the season without a contract? Which, you would think he would have been the first guy they would try to re-sign... To me, the biggest loser in training camp right now is that whole situation with JPJ,” Dulac concluded.

The cornerback market has exploded this offseason after multiple players at the position received huge extensions, so that is likely making things difficult for the Steelers.

Does Joey Porter Jr. make sense for Cowboys?

Porter would be an ideal addition for the Cowboys, as he's more of a sure thing than anyone Dallas has at the cornerback position currently and is a legit CB1.

In 2025, the former second-round pick surrendered a completion rate of 48.5% and a passer rating of 57.2 when targeted. He also registered the 20th-best Pro Football Focus coverage grade among cornerbacks with a 74.1

Those numbers are all superior to those of what Revel, Bland and Durant posted last season, which means Porter would amount to an upgrade over all three and that's just what Dallas needs.

How much would Joey Porter Jr. cost?

When it comes to a trade for Porter, not only do we have to bake in the cost of a deal with the Steelers, but a contract extension, also.

The Cowboys are probably looking at giving up a second-round pick for Porter, and Pittsburgh might want one of those three aforementioned cornerbacks in return, also, because trading Porter away would leave the Steelers with a gaping hole.

It's possible the draft pick compensation could be lower with Porter needing a new contract, and if the Cowboys throw in a cornerback to sweeten the pot.

The Cowboys have both their second- and third-round picks in each of the next two drafts.

As far as a new contract is concerned, Dallas is likely looking at a deal that pays Porter Jr. at least $30 million annually based on recent extensions at the position.

All of that is quite an expensive investment for the Cowboys, but with the way owner Jerry Jones has talked about urgency to win and being open to doing something "substantive" to add to the defense, we wouldn't rule out Dallas being game for it.

— Sign up for the Cowboys Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage from Dallas Cowboys on SI —

Add us as a preferred source on Google