ESPN Insider Believes The Steelers Do Not View Joey Porter Jr. As A Priority

There has been an immense amount of speculation in the weeks leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft about the Pittsburgh Steelers adding a cornerback to their roster. Many believe the team will look to the first-round to do so, as this year's class at corner is especially deep, perhaps the deepest of any positional group. 

However, with only one day until the start of the draft, there is a growing sense around the league that the Steelers may not be able to land their preferred corner prospect at pick 17 and may opt to look elsewhere at a position such as offensive tackle, defensive tackle, or edge rusher. ESPN Insider, Jeremy Fowler, during a radio appearance on 93.7 The Fan with Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller, echoed this sentiment. 

"They [Steelers] just haven't done corner a lot in the first round, so until I see it again, and think this isn't an Artie Burns 2.0, then I just don't know if they would prioritize that," said Fowler in regards to the Steelers spending their first-round selection on a cornerback.

As Many As Six Cornerbacks Could Hear Their Name Called During The First-Round

According to league sources who have spoken to Fowler, there is a real possibility that half a dozen cornerbacks could be off the board come Thursday night. Both Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon are sure-fire first-round players. Additionally, players such as Deonte Banks, Emmanuel Forbes, and D.J. Turner also have legitimate chances of being first-rounders. 

Perhaps the biggest influencing factor as to why there may be a run on defensive backs during night one has to do with the overall level of top-end talent in this year's class. Fowler mentioned how he spoke to one NFL team who has a first-round grade on only 14 prospects this year. With a lack of talent at various other positions, this may allow for players such as Banks and Forbes, who would normally go in the second-round, to go higher than their projection and ascend in to round one. 

Is Joey Porter Jr. Worth The Hype? Could He Be The Steelers Pick At 17?

During the radio appearance, Fowler talked about what he has heard from league sources regarding the possibility of the Steelers adding Penn State cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. on Thursday night. 

"Mike Tomlin has a ton of institutional knowledge on Joey Porter Jr. He is considered more of a mid to late-round prospect, so him at 17 might be a little rich," described Fowler.  

Porter has been projected to the Steelers in a countless number of Mock Drafts, and for obvious reason. As the son of former Steelers' outside linebacker, Joey Porter Sr., it seems as if he may be destined to fulfill the lifelong destiny of playing for his childhood team. Combine this with his stellar play at Penn State and the Steelers' dire need for an insurgence of youth in their secondary, and Porter is a logical fit to play alongside the likes of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Patrick Peterson in 2023. 

If Porter had a different last name, it is difficult to imagine that he would be linked to the Steelers as heavily as he has been this offseason. In terms of how we ranks with other corners in this year's class, it is evident that he is a tier below Gonzalez and Witherspoon, and most likely falls in the same conversation as Banks and Forbes. Porter is a tremendously talented player, but struggles at times with change of direction and only notched one career interception during his time in Happy Valley. 

As Fowler described, Porter at pick 17 might be a bit of a reach. However, depending on how the board falls, the Steelers may choose to move up or down in the first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. If they decide to move back and Porter is available in the twenties, Omar Khan may have to seriously consider selecting him. Furthermore, if for some strange reason Porter falls out of the first-round, he would serve as a remarkable value pick at 32. 

The Steelers May Be Better Off To Wait Until Day Two To Grab A Corner

Fowler's comments only further the notion that the front office may be hesitant to use their first-round selection on a defensive back. The Steelers have struggled with developing their draft picks at corner in recent years, such as Justin Layne, Artie Burns, and Senquez Golson, among others. To help minimize this issue, Fowler suggests the team may wait until the second or third round to add a cornerback, as they did with the recently departed, Cam Sutton, when they took him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. 

Waiting until Day Two may allow the Steelers to shift their focus to other positions of need such as offensive tackle and edge rusher. Interestingly enough, Fowler revealed that Georgia pass rusher, Nolan Smith, "will not fall past 17," meaning that the Steelers may have an interest in his services. With the defense in desperate need of a reliable third outside linebacker, Smith may be a welcome addition to the outside linebacker room. 

Thoughts, Steeler Nation? 

How do yinz feel about Fowler's assessment of JPJ? Would you be happy with him as the Steelers' first-round choice? What other players are you hoping the team considers at 17? Let us know in the comments! 

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