The Washington Commanders' cornerback unit was lackluster in their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's just one game, but it's enough to examine a potential trade for Joey Porter Jr. in more detail.
Porter missed the Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He's been waiting for a new contract that hasn't arrived, and the AFC North club isn't known for working out extensions during the season.
Inevitably, this has led to trade speculation. After watching their secondary get exposed by a Philadelphia receiver room no longer dependent on A.J. Brown, general manager Adam Peters could be pushed into more drastic action.
Commanders must explore swinging for the fences with Joey Porter Jr. trade
The Commanders won't have Trey Amos available for at least the next three games, and it's unclear how much the Ole Miss product will be able to handle when he returns to the lineup. Rasul Douglas and Amik Robertson are serviceable, but 2024 second-round pick Mike Sainristil is quickly becoming a liability.
Philadelphia targeted Sainristil as a weak link. He gave up a deep ball to Dontayvion Wicks. The former Michigan captain was undone by the same wideout for a touchdown soon after, looking lost in coverage and completely unaware of his responsibilities.
Patience might be running out with Sainristil. Given what's at stake for the Commanders this season, calling the Steelers to see what it'd cost to acquire Porter in a blockbuster trade seems feasible.
Though Porter is in the final year of his rookie deal, the Steelers may want a second-round pick and more for the player. He's ascending, can lock down one side of the field, and is a physical presence against the run.
That is precisely what the Commanders need to give Daronte Jones' defense another big boost.
Joey Porter Jr. could be the missing piece of Commanders' defensive puzzle
And even if Amos reaches his ceiling, Porter is a significant upgrade on anything the Commanders have right now.
Of course, the former Penn State star wants to be paid. The cornerback market has been reset several times this offseason. Christian Gonzalez, whom the Commanders inexplicably passed up for Emmanuel Forbes Jr. in the 2023 NFL Draft, was the latest to do so. And even though Porter won't do the same, it will be a substantial deal.
That might be off-putting for Peters, especially with other potential contract extensions on the immediate horizon.
But top-level players approaching their prime should always be explored if there is even a slight chance they are available.
The Steelers have a lot of money tied into their defense. A new deal for Porter would increase that number, possibly requiring sacrifices elsewhere. It's a precarious situation, so maybe getting something back in return before things get more complicated would be the smarter play.
And in this scenario, the Commanders should be all over it.
The cornerback unit has too many cracks for anything else. Whether the Steelers would be willing to part ways with one of their most promising young players is another matter.
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