Steelers' 3 Best Options For Cornerback Depth After Dealing Joey Porter Jr

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally put an end to the non-stop drama revolving Joey Porter Jr. The cornerback has found a new home via trade after being dealt to the Dallas Cowboys late on Wednesday evening. It always seemed as if this outcome was likely because the defender was not happy with his contract situation. Additionally, the franchise refuses to negotiate in these types of conflicts once the season begins. A combination of everything led to the former second-round selection being shipped off. The coaching staff will now be tasked with operating a defense that will not have one of its best players.

The Steelers will now have to get creative with options regarding the secondary. The defense has been without Porter for the start of the 2026 campaign, and that will remain the case after the trade. Still, he was on the 53-man roster. The quick option for Thursday Night Football is extremely simple as there is a practice squad contributor who will likely step up, for now.

1.) Doneiko Slaughter

Pittsburgh gave plenty of reps to 24-year-old Doneiko Slaughter in the preseason. That led to him getting some valuable experience. The result was him being a practice-squad elevation for the Steelers' first three games of the year. After Porter's departure, that is set to continue. It might not be long-term; however, Slaughter has two tackles to his credit through the initial three weeks. 

Slaughter doesn't have to be the season-long fix, but until someone else comes along, he is going to be the one who steps in. It will be a great opportunity for the 2025 undrafted free agent. He could solidify himself as being capable of working as a legitimate NFL role player.

2.) Trevon Diggs

Mike McCarthy has not been shy about bringing some of his former players to the Steel City. An opportunity could present itself in the near future to do that once again. Trevon Diggs is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad. The former All-Pro is still just 28 years old and could fit in nicely with Pittsburgh's roster. He would have to be signed directly to the active roster, so this happening could fully depend on how Slaughter performs on Thursday evening.

Diggs isn't what he once was in terms of effectiveness; hence, his placement on a practice squad out in the NFC. However, reuniting with McCarthy while jumping into a defense that could use his immediate services could come off as an attractive opportunity. His name is certainly one to watch in the coming weeks if the Steelers are exploring the market.

3.) Arthur Maulet

The Steelers like familiarity when it comes to in-season transactions. No one is going to come in and replace Porter or his talents. What will matter moving forward is getting a veteran presence in the room who can step in if called upon. Maulet was with Pittsburgh during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, so he is used to competing in the Steel City. After that stint, he stayed in the AFC North and was with the Baltimore Ravens for a couple of years.

Steelers May Roll With Slaughter For The Majority Of 2026 Season

While bringing in an external option could be attractive to fans, sometimes the best thing to do is keep everything in-house. Slaughter is a respectable player who could thrive in this kind of situation. He won't be thrown into a starting role with rookie Daylen Everette around, but he will be called upon in different situations. He would have to perform very poorly for Omar Khan to look into external resources.

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