The Kansas City Chiefs landed on a list of six teams that should trade for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., a Friday column by Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport suggested.
Hours earlier, the Steelers ruled Porter out for Sunday’s game at the New England Patriots. It will be his second straight missed game. Pittsburgh listed him with a back injury and a non-injury designation.
Porter never reached an extension with Pittsburgh before the season. The Steelers do not negotiate contracts in season, and Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the team is done discussing a new deal with him.
Kansas City’s inclusion runs against its own offseason.
The Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in March for the No. 29 pick in the 2026 draft, fifth- and sixth-round selections and a 2027 third-round pick. Jaylen Watson followed him to Los Angeles on a three-year, $51 million deal.
Kansas City then moved up from No. 9 to No. 6 in a trade with the Cleveland Browns to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Davenport acknowledged the fit looks strange for a team that moved McDuffie rather than pay him elite cornerback money, which is the kind of contract Porter wants. His case rested on how quickly things changed in Kansas City.
Delane intercepted Bo Nix on Denver’s first possession Monday night, then left with a shoulder injury on the same play. He also missed time over the summer with a hairline fracture of his scapula.
Monday’s 31-10 win over the Broncos factored into the argument as well. Davenport pointed to general manager Brett Veach’s aggressive history and suggested the Chiefs could be ready to address a weak spot now rather than build toward later.
Pittsburgh selected Porter 32nd overall in 2023 out of Penn State. He has three interceptions and 31 passes defensed in 47 career games.
Last season, Porter played in 14 games and recorded 52 tackles, one sack, one interception and 14 passes defensed.
The 26-year-old is in the final year of a four-year, $9.6 million rookie contract that carries a $3.9 million base salary for 2026. He is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2027.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Steelers want a premium pick, potentially a first-rounder, to move Porter. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that the two sides are at an impasse over guarantees, since Pittsburgh typically does not guarantee money past the first year of a deal.
Kansas City has made no public move toward a trade. Rapoport reported that Delane is expected to miss minimal time. Kristian Fulton replaced him Monday opposite Nohl Williams, and L’Jarius Sneed led the team with eight tackles as the Chiefs held Nix to 131 passing yards.
The Chiefs would not be alone. Davenport also listed the Washington Commanders, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. Detroit allowed 41 points in Thursday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, a week after giving up 30 to the New Orleans Saints in an overtime win.
Should Delane’s shoulder linger, the Chiefs’ interest could become more than a column’s suggestion. The trade deadline falls on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Kansas City hosts the Indianapolis Colts at 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC.
