Jerry Jones has made it clear that the Dallas Cowboysare prepared to spend to strengthen their defense, and a reported interest in thePittsburgh Steelerscornerback Joey Porter Jr. could give him another opportunity to do so.
The Cowboys have spent the past year reshaping their defense, but injuries and inconsistencies in the secondary have once again exposed an area the franchise has been determined to improve after a 34-31 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
And that search has reportedly brought Dallas into the picture for Porter Jr., with the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting that the Cowboys and Detroit Lions have inquired about the fourth-year defensive back.
“The plot thickens: A few teams, including the #Lions and #Cowboys, have begun to inquire about the status of #Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr., per @AdamSchefter,” Rapoport said via X.com, formerly known as Twitter.
Pittsburgh is reportedly willing to listen to offers for Porter, although the Steelers are seeking significant compensation for a player they still view as an important part of their defense and the situation has become complicated by his contract status.
The cornerback is seeking a new deal, but Pittsburgh traditionally does not negotiate extensions once the regular season begins. With the two sides unable to reach an agreement during the offseason, a potential trade has emerged as a possibility.
Porter has also yet to play this season and was inactive against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 27 after being limited in practice, although he insists he will be on the field as soon as he feels healthy enough to do so.
Dallas has a clear reason to explore the market as Cobie Durant, who was expected to start at cornerback, missed Week 3 against the Ravens because of a hamstring injury, forcing the Cowboys to turn to practice squad activations to cope.
Porter would represent a significant addition, but the potential cost could make the decision more complicated. Previous reports have indicated that Pittsburgh could seek a Day 1 draft pick but this is tricky for Jones.
Dallas has already invested substantial draft capital in trades whilst the Cowboys also face a contract decision if they acquire Porter as the cornerback’s asking price could be substantial.
Notably, his fellow cornerback Trent McDuffie signed a four-year, $124 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams whilst Christian Gonzalez penned a four-year $135m deal with the New England Patriots.
Who do the Dallas Cowboys play next?
After slipping to the Ravens by way of Tyler Loop’s late field goal for the AFC North side, the Cowboys are now 1-2 and threaten to be left behind by Eagles should Philadelphia beat the Chicago Bears on September 28’s Monday Night Football.
A victory for the Eagles would see them take control of the AFC East by one game ahead of the New York Giants, and they would move to be two wins clear of the Cowboys which would make overturning the gap a difficult challenge for Dallas.
The Cowboys will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday, October 4 against a Houston Texans side known for their defensive capabilities, although they have been beaten by the Buffalo Bills, Bengals and Indianapolis Colts.
Kick off from 13:00 ET/10:00 PT and fans of both the Cowboys and AFC South’s Texans can watch the game live on FOX Sports, with streaming available via the FOX Sports App, NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket. Highlights will be available via NFL RedZone.
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