‘Steelers Keep Getting Fleeced by Dallas,’ ‘THAT’S CRAZY’ — NFL World Reacts to Cowboys Landing Joey Porter Jr. in Blockbuster Trade

The Dallas Cowboys have witnessed a difficult start to the season despite entering the year with plenty of offseason hype, dropping to 1-2 following their Week 3 loss. With head coach Brian Schottenheimer preparing the Cowboys for their Week 4 matchup against the Houston Texans , the team has also made headlines by reportedly acquiring Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

NFL World Erupts After Steelers Trade Joey Porter Jr. to Cowboys

Just three days before Wednesday's trade, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that several teams, including the Cowboys and Detroit Lions , had started exploring the possibility of acquiring Porter. He had been seeking a contract extension, but Pittsburgh has traditionally avoided negotiating new deals during the season.

Porter said last week that he would "definitely" play at some point this season, while also saying he had not requested a trade. The subsequent trade, however, changed that outcome.

According to Ari Meirov, Pittsburgh would receive a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick in exchange for Porter.

Porter has yet to appear in a game this season as he continues to work his way back from a lingering back injury. He had been listed as a full participant in practice but was ruled out of Pittsburgh's Thursday night matchup with Cleveland because of his back issue before the trade was finalized.

Meanwhile, Porter's trade immediately drew reactions from across the NFL world.

"Joey Porter Jr's back injury just cleared right up!" Fantasy Points' injury analyst Jeff Muller wrote .

"Playoff Baseball rocks. But Joey Porter Jr. just got traded to the Cowboys… THAT'S CRAZY," ESPN's Sam Block wrote .

Dallas has been aggressive in reshaping its defense, acquiring Quinnen Williams , Rashan Gary , and Kenny Clark via trades while also using first-round picks on Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Porter gives Dallas another option at cornerback, an area where the Cowboys have dealt with inconsistency early in the 2026 season. If he can return to full health, his arrival could strengthen a Dallas secondary that has struggled for consistency early in the season.

From Pittsburgh's perspective, the emergence of Asante Samuel Jr . and Daylen Everette gives the Steelers additional options at cornerback following Porter's departure.

Meanwhile, some were clearly dissatisfied with the move.

"Steelers haven't learned. They keep getting fleeced by Dallas huh," one said .

Steelers Depot's Alex Kozora also questioned the move, writing : "The third trade between the Steelers and Cowboys the last two years. George Pickens , Broderick Jones , and now Joey Porter Jr. Crazy how we got here but felt like this was Pittsburgh's only move left. #Steelers."

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"Why do we keep making the same mistakes?" Gutfoxx, a popular content creator and streamer, wrote .

Onyx Odds also joined the reaction with a meme depicting Cowboys fans asking Jerry Jones to improve the defense.

In Dallas, Porter joins a defense that has undergone significant changes over the past year. The Cowboys have added defensive linemen Quinnen Williams, Rashan Gary, and Kenny Clark through trades, while first-round picks Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence have added young talent to the unit.

Porter now gives Dallas another option in the secondary as the Cowboys look to improve a defense that has struggled through the opening weeks of the season. It remains to be seen whether Porter's addition can change the fortunes of the Cowboys' defense, which now ranks No. 31 in PFN's Defense impact score with a 67.1 grade.