Per Easton Butler of Packer Report, the Green Bay Packers have been making calls on cornerbacks across the league, and Porter is one of the names that has come up.
"The Packers have been making calls for Cornerbacks across the league, per source," Butler wrote. "One name mentioned has been Joey Porter Jr, who is on the last year of his deal."
2027 2nd round pick for Joey Porter Jr who says no? pic.twitter.com/nThVTI3h4r
— evin (@EvinKnowsBall) August 25, 2026
Butler added that Kool-Aid McKinstry and Denver's Riley Moss have also been mentioned, and that no trade is imminent.
Conflicting Report From Pittsburgh's Side
Not everyone agrees calls have actually been made.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that a source told her the Steelers "haven't made or received any trade calls on Porter," a direct contradiction of Butler's reporting.
🚨🚨The #Packers reportedly have made calls to the #Steelers about Joey Porter Jr pic.twitter.com/9XJXI3e7ux
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) August 25, 2026
What both sides do agree on is the state of Porter's contract situation. Head coach Mike McCarthy called the negotiations an "impasse" this week, telling reporters, "We've seen them play, compete against Joey. I would love the opportunity to coach Joey Porter. I know our defensive guys would love the opportunity. So we're at an impasse right here, and you got to respect that."
Why Green Bay Would Be Interested
Porter is seeking a deal in the range of the $30 million-per-year cornerbacks, a threshold five players have now reached since last offseason, including Seattle's Devon Witherspoon at a record four-year, $133 million contract.
Green Bay's own depth chart, with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as starters and rookie second-rounder Brandon Cisse behind Valentine, lacks a player of Porter's caliber.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay named the Packers among four potential landing spots, proposing a package built around Green Bay's 2027 second-round pick to get a deal done, while a separate mock trade floated sending Nixon back to Pittsburgh alongside a second-rounder.
Green Bay is working with a thinner draft war chest than usual after trading its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, plus Kenny Clark, to Dallas for Micah Parsons last summer, leaving the Packers without a first-rounder in the upcoming draft.
That makes any package for Porter more likely to center on Green Bay's second- and third-round capital instead.
Get this: One potential hangup with the Steelers and Joey Porter Jr on a giant contract extension are the number of mental mistakes committed by Porter.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) August 25, 2026
According to Pat McAfee Steelers correspondent Mark Kaboly.
One came in the week 18 win over the Ravens that led to a… pic.twitter.com/3khqVH6Rrz
Porter has missed all of training camp with a back injury he aggravated during a mobility test on day one, remains on the physically unable to perform list, and has stayed professional throughout, attending practices from the sideline and staying "engaged" in meetings, according to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Porter posted the best coverage grade of his career last season, earning a 74 from Pro Football Focus, and has three interceptions and 31 passes defended across 47 career games.
