The Detroit Lions were reportedly interested in trading for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but they lost out to the Dallas Cowboys. On Wednesday night, it was reported that the Cowboys were sending a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick for the disgruntled cornerback. At this point, it’s unclear whether the Cowboys will give Porter, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, an extension. But there are reports that he is seeking a contract north of $30 million per year, which would put him among the top six paid cornerbacks in the league.
Porter has three seasons under his belt in the NFL, and has produced some pretty solid play. In 41 starts, he had 31 passes defensed, three interceptions, 165 tackles, and PFF grades of 64.3, 55.3, and 70.1 from 2023 to 2025. The former second-round pick is considered a solid man-coverage cornerback, but he also committed 38 penalties over 38 years.
The Lions will have to move forward with the players they currently have, despite early struggles that have resulted in Detroit allowing the most passing yards (299.3 per game) and the sixth-highest passer rating (110.2) through three games. DJ Reed is likely entrenched as a starter, while the Lions are shuffling between Roger McCreary, Ennis Rakestraw, and Rock Ya-Sin for the starting job opposite Reed.
Of course, the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 10) is more than a month away, so Detroit could still make a move.