There's no denying the New York Giants can use some help in the secondary. Their connection to star cornerback Joey Porter Jr., now with the Dallas Cowboys, made sense from a need standpoint — but that's about it.
Frankly, the Giants had no business kicking the tires on Porter before the Pittsburgh Steelers traded him to the Dallas Cowboys. He plays an inherently volatile position, which makes the risk of giving up a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder even greater. His expiring rookie contract and presumed near-top-dollar extension still loom large.
Besides, New York will already be operating at an asset deficit in the coming offseason without their fourth- and seventh-round choices. The club has just four of its own seven selections (five total).
And perhaps most importantly, this Giants squad should not be making such aggressive win-now moves.
Cowboys' Joey Porter Jr. trade low-key did the Giants a favor
Lest we forget, New York lost their star pass-rusher and young franchise quarterback to season-ending knee injuries in back-to-back weeks. The sad reality is that they have little to no shot at overcoming such significant absences and competing. How the heck is doubling down on this team a logical response?
The Giants were linked to Porter ahead of the late-night swap that sent him to their NFC East rival instead. They (along with the Detroit Lions) reportedly expressed "some interest," though the Cowboys were the most active bidders, and the rest is history. New York came away empty-handed as Dallas reeled in the big fish.
At first thought, the idea of Porter representing Dallas after outbidding the G-Men might make Big Blue Nation a bit queasy, and understandably so. He mans a premium spot on the field and is firmly in his prime (turned 26 in July), making him a great addition to any roster. Nevertheless, the opportunity cost of acquiring the Penn State product makes it a much easier pill to swallow.
Any long-term deal Porter agrees to figures to run the Cowboys nine figures, and the yearly rate will start with a three. They've already made a massive investment in his services, effectively ceding leverage in any future negotiation. The money puts even more pressure on him to be a home-run pickup.
As great as Joey Porter Jr. is, he's no exception to CB volatility
Several stats show Porter was a true "boundary eraser" in 2025, as Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has already stated. The ex-Steeler's 66.4 passer rating allowed was 59th among 62 CBs with at least 50 targets, and his 55.2 opponent completion percentage ranked 51st. However, let's compare those numbers to the past two campaigns using the same statistical filter:
Joey Porter Jr. 2024 | Joey Porter Jr. 2023 |
|---|---|
68.8 percent opponent completion rate (ninth out of 56 CBs) | 52.5 percent opponent completion rate (76th out of 81 CBs) |
90.2 passer rating allowed (35th/56) | 82.7 passer rating allowed (64th/81) |
See what we mean? Defense isn't sticky year over year, and corners epitomize the fluctuation. Unpredictability is so high for guys like Porter, who are constantly on an island, that expecting them to
Look no further than Paulson Adebo. He hasn't lived up to the $18 million average annual value price tag the Giants signed him to as a free agent last March. While the talent gap between him and Porter is clear, the logic still applies.
Not to mention, today's wide receivers are as talented as ever, and NFL rules tend to favor offense. The odds are stacked against Porter maintaining top-tier production in more ways than one.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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