The Washington Commanders need another cornerback. Some in the fan base clamored for a move to acquire Joey Porter Jr. amid his contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but general manager Adam Peters didn't pull the trigger.
Now, the Commanders will have to deal with Porter twice a season for the foreseeable future.
In a stunning late-night development, the Steelers traded Porter to the Dallas Cowboys, the latest in several high-profile veteran acquisitions from Washington's bitter division rival. The compensation was a sixth-round pick in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2028, which looks pretty decent considering the talent at his disposal.
Commanders didn't trade for Joey Porter Jr., and he now becomes their problem
And this is something the Commanders should have considered.
The Commanders got more than they bargained for with Amik Robertson, and everyone is eagerly awaiting Trey Amos' return from injured reserve. But aside from that, consistency is lacking, though Rasul Douglas performed well in Week 3 after getting more snaps amid Mike Sainristil's alarming slide.
But to take the next step, the Commanders need another capable performer in the long term. And for the price Dallas paid to acquire Porter, it might have been a risk worth taking.
Dallas is looking to rectify some glaring defensive flaws. Porter won't solve every problem, especially their inept run defense, but he will get them a lot closer. If he has the impact expected, a Day 3 pick and a Day 2 selection two years down the road is nothing.
The Cowboys want to win now, and it shows. Peters seems to be stockpiling his picks after making several trades last year, which is understandable. But is any 2028 second-round pick going to be better than Porter?
Unlikely.
Money may have been the key factor behind Commanders overlooking Joey Porter Jr.
And if the Commanders cannot turn things around by then, Peters may not even be making that pick.
Of course, there is also the small matter of paying him.
Porter is in the final year of his deal. The Steelers are renowned for not negotiating with players in-season, and they decided to cash in. But with wide receiver George Pickens — another acquisition from Pittsburgh — also looking to get paid after playing this season on the franchise — it will make for a very interesting offseason of difficult decisions in Dallas.
That may have been the tipping point for Washington.
Peters acknowledged that the club is saving money this year, given the upcoming contract situations with some of their top performers. Adding another big financial commitment in Porter was seemingly a step too far, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating.
Especially after Dallas had no trouble whatsoever pushing its chips into the middle.
Amos will change the complexion, but he's missed a lot of time, and there's no telling if he'll be ready for a starting role when he is designated to return. Robertson is among the league's most prolific corners through three weeks, but can he maintain this elite level for a full 17-game campaign?
As for the rest? Douglas and Fabian Moreau are one-year rentals. Sainristil looks like a lost cause, and the 2024 second-round pick faces an extremely uncertain future as his influence and trust have waned dramatically.
Simply put, the Commanders need another cornerback. If not now, then definitely in 2027.
Porter would have completely changed the dynamic. Even so, Peters didn't think it was worth it when factoring everything into the equation.
Time will tell whether he is right or not.
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