Latest trade intel is something that should have the Bears full attention depending how things look early in the season
The situation between the Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. continues to sour and it could be a situation the Chicago Bers should pay close attention to over the next few weeks.
The Chicago Bears kicked off their 2026 season with a big offensive win on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, but a developing trade situation in Pittsburgh could be something the Bears pay close attention to over the next few weeks after how the defense looked out of the gate.
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., their former first-round pick, remains entrenched in a contract dispute with Pittsburgh that has stretched across the entire summer. The possibility of a trade is real, and the Bears should keep an eye on this being an option.
Why Joey Porter Jr. makes sense for Dennis Allen’s defense
The reason this situation is complicated for Pittsburgh is straightforward. The Steelers already paid a number of players this offseason but did not extend their former first-round pick. The likely explanation? They view him as a limited player. Porter is far better in man coverage than he is in zone, and if you’re trying to pay a cornerback as a top player at the position, you typically need someone who excels in both.
That limitation in Pittsburgh’s scheme could be an asset in Chicago’s. The Bears run a defense under coordinator Dennis Allen that is heavily dependent on press-man coverage. Porter’s skillset fits that scheme perfectly.
Allen’s defense also made a number of changes this offseason aimed at improving the pass coverage rather than the pass rush, and Porter could be the type of addition that elevates the unit if things continue spiraling with Allen’s new group.
The pass rush market has also dried up, so that doesn’t seem like a spark the Bears can turn to if the defense starts to show signs of concern. Myles Garrett already got traded, Josh Sweat could end up staying put in Arizona, and Maxx Crosby doesn’t appear headed anywhere after recent reports that surfaced Sunday about his situation. That makes a secondary upgrade like Porter all the more appealing.
The Jaylon Johnson factor that could hold this possibility up
Chicago already has one highly-paid corner in Jaylon Johnson, which makes the financial math tricky. It would be hard to envision the Bears bringing in Porter without something eventually happening with Johnson down the line.
The problem with that line of thinking right now is that Johnson has had an outstanding offseason. I get he didn’t have his best game in Week 1, but I see him bouncing back. If his strong play continues into the regular season and he eventually returns close to his 2023-24 Pro Bowl form, he could be in line for a new extension of his own after this year.
The other variable here is Tyrique Stevenson, who occupies the other outside cornerback spot and is entering a contract year. Stevenson has been inconsistent through the first three years of his career, and that’s the situation worth monitoring as well after the showing he had on Sunday.
If his inconsistency continues and it becomes clear he won’t be part of Chicago’s long-term plans, the Bears could find it worth giving up a second-round pick for an upgrade like Porter to add to this defense. Pairing Porter with Johnson in Allen’s press-man scheme would give Chicago one of the more formidable cornerback duos in the league, although it would also eventually be one of the league’s most expensive duos.
The Bears have a few weeks to continue evaluating things, but this is a situation worth tracking ahead of the trade deadline. If there’s any questions about Johnson and/or Stevenson and Porter’s availability lingers, Ryan Poles shouldn’t need much convincing to give up another second-round pick for an impact defender midseason.
