The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense has looked like a very strong unit through three weeks of the 2026 regular season. This has been the case even though top cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains sidelined with a back/conditioning/lack of contract issue. The defender was listed as a full participant on Monday's report, so there is starting to be some optimism about his availability. However, it's fair to note that it was just an estimation because the workout was only a walkthrough. There's no guarantee that the former second-rounder is a full go when everything transpires throughout the rest of the week.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) stands on the field while his teammates get a workout in during a 2026 training camp practice taking place at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers will take on the Cleveland Browns in a Thursday Night Football showdown. It will be a battle of a couple of 2-1 teams, so the winner will actually be atop the AFC North. It would be ideal to have Porter out there, especially because Pittsburgh is a tad banged up in the secondary. Despite that, the Penn State product could still be unhappy with the franchise.
This has continued to drive speculation about general manager Omar Khan's desire to trade the corner elsewhere. He is a top-notch talent entering the prime of his career, so a return would hypothetically be pretty strong. There haven't been a lot of official reports suggesting how many front offices may or may not be calling into the Steel City.
That's why it was relevant on Monday when a prominent sports voice in a major market spoke up about what he has been hearing. On an episode of The Mike Francesca Podcast, it was revealed that the New York Giants are getting close to acquiring someone who is currently unhappy. On top of that, it was also mentioned that price and salary are coming into play. It doesn't take a genius to connect the dots and assume Porter is the one being discussed.
"Now there's other reports and a lot of buzz as the Giants are also looking to pick up a prominent player who's unhappy," Francesca stated. "My understanding, he's a secondary player. Whether that happens or not will depend on price and salary and everything as far as that goes. There are rumblings that the Giants are looking to make more moves and that they have one move that they're very much zeroing in on. Let's see what happens."
Head Coach John Harbaugh has plenty of experience going up against Porter. It now appears as if he may have some serious interest in coaching him in New York. The Giants are 2-1 and, despite the loss of Jaxson Dart, have started the campaign off in a decent spot. If Harbaugh and Co. can somehow slip into the postseason, their starting quarterback might even be able to return. One way to accomplish this is by getting a lockdown corner for the defense.
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New York Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh speaks at the press conference announcing his hiring at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Jan. 20, 2026.
One interesting tidbit to point out about the Steelers' injury report is the nature of it being an estimation. Not only does this put pressure on Porter, but it also hints to other franchises that the defender's back is healed. That could have been the last step in getting an organization like the Giants to make a move. Additionally, General Manager Joe Schoen will likely do anything at this point if he feels as if it will secure his long-term security in New York.
New York has its first, second, and third-round selections for the 2027 NFL Draft. The team does not possess a fourth-rounder. It's hard to put together an imaginary trade package at this time, so the compensation in a deal is anybody's guess. It would be ideal for the Steelers to get a second-round pick at a minimum. If Francesca's reporting is accurate, a transaction could be set to happen very soon.
Steelers Shouldn't Trade Porter Just To Trade Him
While it has been a little bit of a distraction, Porter is pretty much off to the side and not bothering anyone on game days. Pittsburgh has the leverage because he is on the final year of his rookie deal, so a trade does not have to commence. It should only occur if the Steelers are blown away with an offer. The organization still technically has two years to slap the franchise tag on the cornerback if it comes to that.
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