The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted cornerback Joey Porter Jr. in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Joey Porter Jr. is the son of former NFL veteran Joey Porter, who played 13 seasons in the NFL, eight of those with the Steelers. Porter Sr. was known for his trash talk and vicious play on the field that backed it up.
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Joey Porter celebrates a victory in Super Bowl XL with his two sons.
His son has been no different. Porter Jr. plays with the same confidence and swagger his father exhibited during his impressive NFL career. As a rookie, Porter Jr. turned heads, making his mark as one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. Steelers fans are very excited about his potential and eager to see the improvements he has made for the 2024 season.
Porter Jr. grew up around Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin. He came to Pittsburgh with high expectations, having been around Tomlin for so long and because of his father's legacy. Early in the Steelers season, Porter Jr. struggled with his tackling. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of The Athletic detailed a conversation between Porter Sr. and his son after a game where he struggled with his tackling.
“He said, ‘You already know what play I am going to talk about,'” Porter remembered his dad saying. “He would always tell me that I never wanted that on my tape. It was rookie jitters, and once it started slowing down for me, it got better.”
Porter Jr. believes that as he became more comfortable during the 2023 season, the game actually slowed down for him, allowing him to improve his tackling. Additionally, he added some muscle mass this offseason, which should help him become an enforcing cornerback. The Steelers feel very fortunate to have Porter Jr. in their secondary, viewing him as a cornerstone of their defense for many years to come.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. pulls in an interception during a game against the Buffalo Bills.
Porter Jr. started 11 games during the 2023 season. Although he was not an immediate starter, he earned the trust to shadow the opposing teams' best wide receivers as the season progressed. He played with the same fearless swagger and trash talk as his father, never backing down, even from the league's top wide receivers. He is eager to face the best wide receivers in the 2024 season and shut them down.
Steelers' Secondary Is In Good Hands With Two Solid Cornerbacks
In those 11 games, Porter Jr. recorded one interception, 43 combined tackles, 10 passes defensed, and 32 solo stops. His fearless mentality is a perfect fit for the Steelers defense, which has improved this offseason. Additionally, Porter Jr. gained a new partner to start opposite him in Donte Jackson.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson getting warmed up for OTAs.
Jackson comes to Pittsburgh as an exciting veteran cornerback known for his speed, someone the Steelers have had an interest in for several seasons. The prospect of a secondary featuring Jackson and Porter Jr. has fans and pundits alike excited about the potential of this dynamic duo. With an improved secondary and additional playmakers added to the defense, the Steelers are expected to have one of the best defenses in the NFL during the 2024 season.
Recently, the Steelers' defense has been the backbone of the team. Under Tomlin, the Steelers have never had a losing season, largely due to the defense's ability to carry the team to victory. In 2024, the offense has also improved, and the Steelers finally have a reliable quarterback in Russell Wilson.
With improvements on all three sides of the ball and Porter Jr. gaining muscle, he is eager to make his mark. Having his father continue to mentor him is a great advantage for Porter Jr. Steelers fans are eager to see him take a significant leap in his second NFL season in 2024.
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