As the Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. try to hammer out an extension, teams around the NFL are wondering if he might be available via trade.
That rumor comes from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who notes that Porter Jr. is drawing interest from other teams as a potential trade target.
“Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. is a name multiple teams around the NFL have wondered about as a potential trade target, per sources,” Schultz reported.
Porter Jr. is entering the final year of his contract and would obviously love an extension.
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However, the price for cornerbacks continues to rise after Devin Witherspoon, Denzel Ward and Trent McDuffie all received hefty extensions this offseason, which has only made things harder for the Steelers when it comes to locking Porter Jr. up.
If the Steelers do decide to put Porter Jr. on the trade block, these seven teams should come calling.
Detroit LionsDetroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday August 17, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)After he got himself into legal trouble, the Lions decided to part ways with Terrion Arnold, who was once viewed as the future at the cornerback position in Detroit.
With Arnold gone, the Lions are now depending on journeyman Rock Ya-Sin and Ennis Rakestraw to take the spot opposite D.J. Reed.
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The problem is that Ya-Sin is better suited as a backup, and Rakestraw has proven unreliable over two seasons in the NFL because of injuries.
Porter Jr. would immediately shore up that spot and give the Lions one of the better one-two punches at cornerback in the league.
Washington CommandersWashington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn takes to the field prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium. Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The Commanders have a pair of question marks at cornerback.
Standout 2025 draft pick Trey Amos is sidelined with an ankle sprain and is coming back from a season in which he suffered a fractured fibula.
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On the other side, Mike Sainristil stands to start, but he’s coming off a disappointing season and is anything but locked-in for the long haul.
For a Commanders team that was awful against the pass last season, there is just too much uncertainty on the boundary to be confident things will change.
Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen Field. Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Judging by the fact that the Seahawks are expected to sign Terrion Arnold and have just signed Trevon Diggs, it’s clear the team isn’t set on its cornerback situation.
Seattle let Riq Woolen leave in free agency, which leaves Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe and not much else.
It remains to be seen if Arnold will even be able to play in 2026, as he’s slated to be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List upon signing with a team while his legal situation plays out.
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We also know Diggs has been on the decline for a few years now and injuries have also been an issue for him.
Signing Porter Jr. would give Seattle an embarrassment of riches at cornerback and would further bolster what is already an elite defense.
Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady looks at his play card during the first half aginst the Carolina Panthers at New Highmark Stadium. Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The Bills are set on one side with Christian Benford, but the jury is still very much out on the guy opposite him, Maxwell Hairston.
Hairston missed six games due to injury during his rookie season and was only OK when he did take the field for Buffalo.
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Buffalo is also sorely lacking adequate depth behind those two, which means the team is just one injury away from being in a really precarious spot.
With the Bills looking to get over the hump for their first Super Bowl, adding an upgrade like Porter Jr. should be on the table for general manager Brandon Beane.
Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The Chiefs were forced to completely revamp their cornerbacks room this offseason after trading Trent McDuffie and letting Jaylen Watson leave in free agency.
While Kansas City figures to have shored up one boundary spot with the draft selection of Mansoor Delane, the Chiefs are also relying on L’Jarius Sneed as a starter.
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Sneed was once an elite cornerback, but his career took a nosedive over two years with the Tennessee Titans, where Sneed struggled with injury and ineffectiveness.
Signing Porter Jr. and pushing Sneed to a depth role would be an ideal scenario for K.C.
Las Vegas RaidersLas Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak reacts during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Las Vegas is in the midst of a rebuild, but Porter Jr. is still young enough at 26 years old to be a long-term solution for the Raiders.
As things stand now, the Raiders are banking on the likes of Eric Stokes and Darien Porter to lock down the outside.
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Stokes is coming off a phenomenal year, but we need to see more before we’re convinced that’s who he really is.
Meanwhile, the jury is still very much out on Porter as he enters his second year in the league.
Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Owner Jerry Jones has made it quite clear he is willing to sacrifice the future to continue to bolster a Cowboys defense that was the worst in the NFL last season.
Looking ahead to 2026, cornerback remains a concern.
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DaRon Bland has been plagued by injury and inadequate play overall in recent years, Shavon Revel is still a question mark going into Year 2, and Cobie Durant has proven to be a decent but not great starter during his career.
The Cowboys could look to move Revel in a trade with the Steelers, which would lessen the burden on the draft capital they would have to give up.
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