The Pittsburgh Steelers are being highly touted for an incredible 2023 NFL Draft. The team didn't only land a potential future blindside protector in Broderick Jones after trading up in the first round, but also could have come up with a huge steal to begin the second. Thanks to a trade that set wide receiver, Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears in November of 2022, Pittsburgh had the first selection in the second round of the draft. The organization used that to take family-tied, Joey Porter Jr.
Penn State cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. | Photo Credit: Joe Hermitt / Penn Live
Many were speculating whether the team would trade back to add draft capital in round two, but General Manager, Omar Khan decided to stay exactly where the franchise was slotted. Porter Jr. got the long-awaited call and was informed that he would begin his career with the organization that drafted his father in 1999.
Several players who expect to be selected in the first round each year end up falling out of the elite group. Porter Sr., who was taken in the third round over two decades ago, had some chilling advice for his son that was recently released by NFL Films on Twitter.
"Take it personal."@joeyporterjr got a much-needed pep talk from dad after getting passed on in round one 😤 @Steelers
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) May 2, 2023
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Some of these things that his father said to him are certain to get any Steelers fan fired up for the next generation's time in the Steel City. Porter Sr. was the perfect person for his son to have on Thursday night.
Steelers Joey Porter Sr. | Photo Credit: Jason Bridge / USA TODAY Sports
"There's nothing like motivation, right? They wanna see a pissed off football player? Now they got one. You see what I'm saying?"
He continued to give his son more veteran intel. Porter Sr. let him know that the real work begins now and embraced his clearly distraught son on draft night.
"When I be giving you little nuggets about what we gotta do and how we gotta work, just follow me. Because this will be part of the whole motivation now. You know where you were supposed to went. We ain't got control over that."
The former Super Bowl champion continued to console his son and let it be know to the former Penn State Nittany Lion that the prepration upcoming will be key.
"That's why I'm trying to prepare you for anything. 'Cause I already know anything can happen. I know how these drafts go. But, what I'm telling you is now you've been motivated to another level. Because we've got something to prove. And take it personal."
Former Penn State Nittany Lions and new Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. | Photo Credit: AP Photo / Doug McSchooler
Steelers May Have Found A Gem In Porter Jr.
Pittsburgh desperately needed help at the cornerback position and the fact that one of the top in the entire draft class fell out of the first round must have been music to the front office's ears on Thursday. Now, they gain a legacy player who will be out to prove every single team wrong that held a first round pick. The lockdown corner will have the chance to immediately step in and make an impact for the Steelers.
Did Porter Sr.'s comments to his son send chills up and down your spine? Let us know in the comments below!
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