On the surface, that might be a reasonable answer.
Dallas, after all, traded a future second and sixth round pick to the Steelers to get him. That may not be a ton, but it’s not exactly nothing.
But he still didn’t get what he wanted the most, which is a new contract extension. The Cowboys are reportedly holding out on a new deal for him and will require him to play out the remainder of his rookie contract and be out of it after the season.
That might not end well.
If nothing else, it puts a ton of pressure on him to perform – and perform at a high level without too much margin for error.
It could also result in him getting a franchise-tag tender after the season, which is exactly what the Cowboys did with Porter Jr.’s former teammate. in Pittsburgh (and now currently with Dallas), George Pickens, following his big debut season in Dallas.
He might not like that either.
When it comes to value, every team involved, from the Steelers, to the Cowboys, to the other 30 teams around the league, has made a pretty strong statement about how much they value Porter Jr. and what he brings to the field.
That value is as a second-tier cornerback.
The Steelers don’t want to pay him like a top-tier cornerback.
Dallas didn’t give up as many first-round picks for him as the Indianapolis Colts did for Sauce Gardner.
They didn’t even give up a first-round pick for him like the Los Angeles Rams did for Trent McDuffie.
No other team in the league seems willing to give up more than a second-rounder, because you have to assume the Steelers would take that if they were offered one.
The Cowboys are also taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to paying him.
How tall are they? indeed appreciation for him? They seem to be taking more of a calculated gamble and waiting to see how it plays out before doubling down. If they do.
It seems more likely that Porter Jr. is just hurt. after not being able to get a new deal, or simply not wanting to play in Pittsburgh (either for financial or other reasons).
He’s a great player, but there’s still obviously some debate within the NFL about just how good. His view of himself may be very different from what the league’s 32 teams see. That includes the team that just replaced him.