It wasn't a very typical move for the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring in an aging, but future Hall of Fame player in Patrick Peterson during the 2023 offseason. The cornerback spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals and played the 2021 and 2022 campaigns playing for the Minnesota Vikings. His two-year contract with Pittsburgh could be the last of his career and he is a perfect mentor for what is a young cornerback room. Specifically, Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. can learn a lot from the man who will be in Canton one day.
Steelers new cornerback, Patrick Peterson dons the black and gold at a practice during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in the 2023 offseason. | Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Organized Team Activites (OTAs) is a great time for the media to catch up with tenured players, but also get to know a little more about the new guys who were signed in free agency or drafted by the Steelers. Peterson has been actively speaking up and recently had an exclusive interview with Amanda Godsey of The Tribune-Democrat.
He talked about a number of topics and Godsey asked him about Porter and how is he playing a mentorship role to the young and promising cornerback. He was clear in saying that the rookie has a chance to be better than him and if we connect the dots, that would mean Peterson thinks that Porter could absolutely have a Hall of Fame career.
"I just want to continue helping him in [as] many ways as I can. He has all the intangibles to be better than me."
Porter slipped out of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and fell right into the Steelers' lap. He was expected to go much earlier, but it worked out for Pittsburgh. Instead of trading the first pick in the second round, the organization stayed put and selected who could be the future at the position for the franchise.
Steelers' rookie cornerback, Joey Porter Jr. (#24) takes part in the team's rookie minicamp in Pittsburgh, PA. shortly after being selected 32nd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. | Photo Credit: Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Of course, Trice also has an incredible opportunity to be educated by Peterson, but the veteran continued to talk to Godsey about what he's doing to help Porter. It can be assumed that he's also consistently working with Trice too, however.
"Whatever I can do to help him accelerate the game as fast as I can," Peterson said.
Peterson implied that one of the keys to a long and storied career is starting off fast. Porter is expected to start right out of the gate for Pittsburgh and beginning with success could shape his future. Peterson is doing his part to make sure that the rookie is ready to take the next step at the professional level. He told Godsey that preparation is pivotal.
"I want to be able to give him all the nuggets to be successful early in his career because I feel like if he's able to taste that success early and get into a routine [and] understand what he needs to do from a Monday through Saturday to get his his body and mind prepared for a game, I think the better off he'll be; the longer he'll be able to last in this game."
Porter has Steelers fans everywhere extremely excited. It's not just a legacy story, but he has the upside and could potentially be one of the better cornerbacks in recent memory.
Steelers cornerback, Patrick Peterson sits down to sign his two-year contract with Pittsburgh at the team's facility. | Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers Have A Great Duo With Peterson and Porter
If Porter is ahead of schedule in terms of his development, Peterson is deserving of some credit for it. The two have a legitimate opportunity to be one of the better cornerback duos in the AFC in 2023. Pittsburgh has swung and missed drafting cornerbacks for the majority of the 21st century and the overwhelming majority are hopeful that Porter will be the one to change that trend.
How important do you think it is for the Steelers to have Peterson mentoring Porter? Let us know in the comments below!
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