The Pittsburgh Steelers have been Rooney Family-owned since their inception in 1933. In recent years, the Steelers have taken it further by reuniting Derek Watt and TJ Watt, and Cam Heyward and Connor Heyward on the roster. Pittsburgh signed Willie Parker's cousin Jaylen Warren as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The 2023 draft featured Omar Khan trading Chase Claypool to bring Joey Porter Jr. home to Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin and Steeler Nation were rewarded with what appears to be the Steelers' number-one cornerback for years to come.
Danny Karnik / AP Photo
Steelers' Cameron and Connor Heyward share an emotional moment during a regular season game in Atlanta.
Khan and Andy Weidl have begun doing their due diligence on the 2024 NFL Draft class. Tomlin spent last week at the Senior Bowl sending social media into a frenzy every time he interacted with a prospect. The attention of the media was focused on Mobile, AL, but Pittsburgh is hard at work scouting and evaluating lesser-known talent that may turn into hidden gems in the later rounds.
During the College Gridiron Showcase, which features standout players from smaller schools, the Steelers met with Shon Stephens. He's a two-time All-American, who also happens to be Porter’s cousin. Stephens is a very interesting draft prospect who has dealt with adversity in his family life and at the hands of the NCAA.
John Raffel / Pioneer photo
Steelers could target Joey Porter Jr.'s cousin, Shon Stephens, to join the 2024 roster.
Stephens originally transferred from a junior college to Missouri Southern State in 2020, but he never took the field. He was forced to put his football dreams on hold when his mother suffered a heart attack. He sat out the 2020 season and attempted to join his cousin at Penn State in 2021 as a walk-on. He had the talent, but was deemed ineligible by Penn State because of his academic progress. In true Porter family fashion, Stephens developed a hard edge after being denied an opportunity.
"I have a big chip on my shoulder as it is. Like, I had no choice but to get business done," Stephens said. "I came in with a plan, and through prayer and grinding and having this chip on my shoulder, it really separated me."
After returning to the field in 2022 for West Liberty, he garnered an All-American nod and led the nation in interceptions. He entered the transfer portal to try to make the leap to one of several Power Five programs that had interest. Unfortunately, it meant he had to apply for a seventh year of eligibility, which the NCAA inexplicably denied. Eventually, he was able to take the field for Ferris State in 2023 and was selected as a Second Team All-American after posting a second consecutive season with 8 interceptions.
Gene J. Puskar / AP
Pittsburgh Steelers' seventh-round pick, defensive back, Cory Trice Jr. (27) attends the NFL football team’s rookie minicamp in Pittsburgh on Friday, May 12, 2023.
The Steelers' secondary will look very different in 2024. Porter will be the number one, but Patrick Peterson regressed and could be a cap casualty if he does not transition to safety. Levi Wallace and James Pierre are free agents and have demonstrated they are not the answer as Porter’s running mate. Corey Trice Jr. is intriguing, but he is a seventh-round pick coming off of a significant knee injury.
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Pittsburgh will probably target a cornerback in free agency, but there is no guarantee they will be L’Jarius Sneed or Jaylon Johnson, who are at the top of the market. They will command large salaries that could easily top $20 million annually. There are good options like Chidobe Awuzie from the Cincinnati Bengals. He will cost half as much if Pittsburgh wants to maintain cap flexibility with Pat Freiermuth entering the final year of his contract and a decision looming on Najee Harris' fifth-year option.
Stephens was highly productive during his college career, but he lacks the prototypical size the Steelers have started to assemble in the secondary. He is under six feet tall, but has an exceptional nose for the football, a trait Teryl Austin values. Stephens has an NFL family pedigree, but his lack of experience against top competition may work against him in the draft process.
Barry Reeger / AP
Pittsburgh Steelers could reunite Joey Porter Jr. with his cousin in 2024.
The newest Porter family member with NFL aspirations may not warrant an invite to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, but that could be good for Pittsburgh. Khan and Weidl could draft him in the late rounds or sign him as an undrafted free agent and allow him to join the family business.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Will the Steelers continue pairing family members on the 2024 roster? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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