San Francisco has eight selections in next year’s draft and $45 million available, resources ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler identified as reasons the 49ers could fit in a potential trade for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The team has played one game this season.
Fowler said those resources could help San Francisco pursue a contract extension for Porter if a deal is completed, though no additional negotiation or trade details were provided.
Porter, 26, was the last player chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft. He attended Penn State, has spent most of his life in the Pittsburgh area and is the son of Joey Porter, who played linebacker for the Steelers during part of an 11-year NFL career. The younger Porter’s contract disagreement with Pittsburgh reached what Fowler described as a breaking point.
A trade would put Porter in San Francisco’s secondary with Deommodore Lenoir. Fowler cited them as a possible cornerback pairing. Porter is known for press coverage, and quarterbacks completed 32 of 66 throws directed at him, according to the report.
The 49ers’ secondary struggled last season. Renardo Green, now opposite Lenoir, allowed completions on 48.5% of throws against him after a strong second half. San Francisco gave up 29 passing touchdowns, ranking just outside the NFL’s bottom five defenses in that category. The report was published by nypost.com on Sept. 14, 2026.