Cowboys Add Joey Porter Jr., Giants Get J.J. McCarthy

The deals

Ahead of November's trade deadline, two moves stand out: cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is headed to the Cowboys, and quarterback J.J. McCarthy is going to the Giants. Dallas is betting Porter can tighten up a defense that's been leaking, while New York is hoping McCarthy upgrades a shaky quarterback room.

The survivor-pick read

Both moves are about fixing a weakness — which is exactly why survivor players should pump the brakes rather than get excited. A team that trades for a starting cornerback or a new quarterback is telling you it wasn't good enough at those spots before the deal, and freshly acquired players rarely transform a unit overnight. Porter needs time to learn Dallas's scheme, and McCarthy stepping into the Giants' offense is a projection, not a sure thing. For a format where one wrong week ends your run, neither the Cowboys nor the Giants is a lock on the strength of a deadline move alone. Wait for them to prove it on the field, and if you're setting up a group this season, start a free survivor pool and keep your safest entries on teams that don't need a trade to win.