NFL Trade Deadline: Cowboys Acquire Joey Porter Jr. as Giants Add J.J. McCarthy

With the 2026 NFL trade deadline set for November 10 at 4 p.m. ET, teams have begun reshaping their rosters ahead of the cutoff. Two notable trades have already been finalized, involving a high-profile cornerback moving to Dallas and a former first-round quarterback heading to New York to bolster the Giants' depth.

The most significant defensive move involves the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys. This transaction concludes a prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding the defensive back, who was a 2023 second-round draft pick for Pittsburgh. The saga, which persisted throughout the offseason, was complicated by stalled contract extension negotiations and Porter's recent absence due to a back injury. In exchange for the cornerback, the Steelers will receive a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and a second-round selection in the 2028 draft.

The Giants' decision to bring in McCarthy follows news that their current quarterback, Jaxson Dart, underwent surgery on his left knee last Friday. Despite the addition of McCarthy to the roster, Giants head coach John Harbaugh has clarified the team's immediate plans. Following the team's Week 3 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Harbaugh confirmed that Jameis Winston would remain the starting quarterback. He reiterated this stance on Monday, emphasizing that the acquisition of McCarthy does not change the current hierarchy under center.