The Dallas Cowboys' secondary has been decimated by injuries, and ownership wasn't going to let what happened in 2025 happen again, hence the Joey Porter Jr. trade. A solid move by Jerry Jones and this front office, Dallas is getting a tall, long, and physical cornerback who's coming off his best season in the NFL. Porter will most certainly help a Cowboys secondary giving up 7.4 yards per pass attempt this season and 207.3 passing yards a game.
But was this trade the right move for this defense?
Dallas is ranked 14th in passing yards allowed but 30th in sacks with just two, and 26th in pressures with 26 on the season. Based on the numbers the better move for the Cowboys might have been trading for an impact pass rusher who will help both the secondary
and get this get off the field.
It’s a case of what comes first, the chicken or the egg? In this case which helps the defense more right now, pass rush or coverage?
Dallas isn't generating pressures and sacks on quarterbacks often enough. Two sacks and 26 pressures through the first part of the season aren't numbers that strike fear into opposing offenses. An impact edge defender would not only help create more negative plays but also make life easier on a secondary forced to cover for extended periods of time.
At the same time, the Cowboys' pass defense hasn't been a complete liability. Dallas ranks around the middle of the league in passing yards allowed. This secondary could be much better if they had more pressure generated up front. Even the best cornerbacks struggle when quarterbacks consistently have clean pockets and extra time to work through their progressions. A premier pass rusher can raise the level of an entire defense; Dallas knows this after trading away their last premier edge rusher Micah Parsons and saw this defense fall apart.
However, the Cowboys' cornerback situation demanded immediate attention. Shavon Revel Jr. and Cobie Durant are both injured, and Dallas isn’t ready to start fielding inexperienced practice squad players like they did in 2025. Adding Joey Porter Jr. gives defensive coordinator Christian Parker another starting-caliber corner opposite DaRon Bland capable of matching up against larger receivers and stabilizing a position group decimated by injuries.
Ultimately, adding a pass rusher would have helped fix Dallas' underwhelming pass rush, the Porter trade was about addressing the roster's most immediate vulnerability. The Cowboys will still have opportunities to improve their pass rush through scheme adjustments and increased blitz packages. Finding a starting cornerback of Porter Jr’s caliber in the middle of the season is much harder.
Porter Jr. may not solve Dallas' pressure and sack issues, but you can understand why the move was made. He strengthens a secondary battling injuries, gives their injured players more time to get healthy and a possible off ramp for the Bland contract if he’s unable to return to his Pro Bowl form.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Joey Porter Jr. to Cowboys: Smart move but wrong position?
