Steelers' Perfect Trade Partner For Joey Porter Jr Has Never Been More Clear

The saga between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. seems to get more complicated by the day. The organization is unlikely to break its own in-season rule about not negotiating contracts once Week 1 is completed. Despite this, the cornerback is not yet playing in competitive settings. He suffered a back injury in July and has yet to truly log a full workout. When the team put him on the injury report recently because of conditioning and something non-injury related, the defender exited practice the very next day while all of the media was able to see and report on it.

It's an ugly situation in which there is no true winner right now. The Steelers are missing their best secondary member while Porter didn't get the new contract that he wanted. Altogether, it's one major loss. There is a legitimate possibility of Pittsburgh trading him to completely get rid of any potential distraction. With that said, another front office would have to come calling with the right offer.

Porter needs to be fully healthy to get dealt somewhere. However, if he admits that he is 100% in the hopes of getting moved, he could open himself up to potential fines if the Steelers expect him to play prior to any kind of trade commencing. It's a sticky spot to be in, which is why Pittsburgh does hold a little bit more leverage. There is one NFC foe that might be willing to pay up given recent events.

The Detroit Lions suffered a 41-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. Unfortunately for Head Coach Dan Campbell, injuries hit his group hard. Specifically, cornerback Avonte Maddox will be out for the year, according to Campbell. He discussed the injury a little bit during his weekly press conference on Monday.

"Alright, I'll start with Maddox," Campbell said. "Maddox is going to require surgery. Looks like he'll be out for the season. You know, that, uh, that hurts a little bit. Maddox is a good player for us, a good, solid football player... I hate that for him. So, you know, that's the hand we're dealt and we move forward."

Prior to the regular season beginning, the Lions' former first-round pick in Terrion Arnold was arrested and charged with multiple felony counts. That would lead to his release from Detroit. That hurt Campbell's unit quite a bit when it came to depth. Following the news about Maddox, there is no doubt that help is needed in the secondary. Porter could be exactly who is needed in the Motor City.

General Manager Brad Holmes could have to decide what kind of draft capital he is willing to give up to acquire the disgruntled Steelers cornerback. Desperation could set in and lead to Omar Khan getting a better return than originally anticipated.

It would be ideal to get a first-round pick in return for Porter. He is a young defender who has plenty of great football ahead of him. Unfortunately, that kind of ask might be too much, even if the Lions really need assistance. This has been a waiting game all along for Khan and Co., so there really is no reason to give in just yet. Patience could be what helps Pittsburgh win in the end.

Detroit would also likely have to be willing to reward Porter with a new deal. It could make a lot of sense for an organization that just parted ways with a 2024 first-rounder due to legal concerns. Having more picks would also go a long way for the Steelers if the goal is to be aggressive in the 2027 NFL Draft in pursuit of a potential franchise quarterback.

Steelers Have To Make A Big Decision Soon On Porter

While Khan has been taking his time with any kind of move revolving around the cornerback, the distraction is becoming louder. Every week there will continue to be questions about the defender's back injury, or lack thereof. If the Lions and Holmes come calling with a very attractive offer, it seems like it would be silly to pass on taking it based on how things look on the outside looking in.

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