Joey Porter Jr. Holds Nothing Back On Disrespect From Steelers After Cowboys Trade

Joey Porter Jr. was sitting in a movie theater watching the Brad Pitt film “Heart of the Beast” when the Pittsburgh Steelers changed the course of his career. Less than 24 hours later, the cornerback was in Dallas explaining why he felt the team that drafted him had undervalued him throughout a contract standoff.

Porter was traded to the Cowboys on Wednesday night for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round selection. In his first media availability with Dallas, the 26-year-old made it clear that the contract dispute with Pittsburgh had left a mark on him.

“Definitely, definitely. It was a hard process, a lot of ups and downs. Definitely felt disrespected. Definitely felt undervalued. But that’s old news now,” Porter said, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris.

The cornerback was entering the final year of his rookie contract and had been seeking an extension from the Steelers, who drafted him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The two sides never reached an agreement, with the structure of the guaranteed money reportedly becoming a major sticking point.

Pittsburgh also has a longstanding policy of not negotiating contract extensions during the season. With Porter still without a new deal when the season began, the situation remained unresolved.

Porter ultimately did not play a game for the Steelers in 2026. He had been listed with a back issue during the offseason and was also described as working through a conditioning ramp-up. However, the contract situation became an unavoidable part of the story.

Porter did not receive an immediate extension from the Cowboys either. But he said the trade itself showed him that Dallas viewed him differently.

“It was the value. I didn’t feel like it was really that over there,” Porter said. “[Dallas] is showing me that they value me more over here. That’s really all I need to show what I can do.”

That is why Porter is willing to bet on himself during the final year of his rookie deal.

“Bet on myself. You got to always have that at the end of the day, and that’s what I’m doing,” he said.

The move also gives Porter a fresh start with a Cowboys defense that badly needs help in the secondary. Dallas entered the trade with major injury concerns at cornerback, including Cobie Durant’s hamstring issue and Shavon Revel dealing with knee and ankle issues.

Porter has started 41 games over his first three NFL seasons and recorded three interceptions. He also had 14 passes defended in 2025 without allowing a touchdown in coverage, according to the data provided by the Cowboys.

Now, the Cowboys are hoping that production can translate immediately.

Porter said he was “blessed” when he received the trade call while watching Heart of the Beast and even left the theater to process the news. He then pulled an all-nighter before making his way to Dallas for practice on Thursday.

There is already a chance he could make his Cowboys debut on Sunday against the Houston Texans. The turnaround would be extremely quick, but Dallas is expected to evaluate how Porter responds after getting his first practice with the team.

For Porter, though, the immediate priority is proving that the Cowboys’ decision to acquire him was justified.

“I already accepted everything that came with it and that it’s a business at the end of the day. I was willing to take that step, and I’m glad I landed here,” Porter said.

The trade has given Porter a clean break from Pittsburgh, while Dallas gets a talented cornerback with plenty to prove in his new surroundings.

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