Pittsburgh Steelers select Joey Porter Jr. in second round of 2023 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with the first pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Porter spent four years with the Nittany Lions, earning All-Big Ten honors his final three seasons in Blue and White. He was a third team selection in 2020 and 2021 before earning first team honors in 2022.

Over his four seasons, Porter had 94 tackles, 19 passes defended and one interception.

He is the first defensive back from Penn State to be selected in the first round of the draft.

“It’s definitely amazing that I am going be the first,” Porter Jr., said in March. “I’m going to go down in history at Penn State. So, that’s something I can come back and show my kids that. Definitely a special moment. I’m going to be the first, and really just set the tone for what’s coming behind me.”

Porter has excellent bloodlines as the son of former All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter. Porter played in the NFL for 13 seasons, mostly with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He helped the team to Super Bowl XL while making two All-Pro first teams and three All-Pro second teams.

He attended the Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny High, where he was the No. 252 overall recruit and No. 25 cornerback in the 2019 On3 Industry Ranking. The On3 Industry is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four major recruiting media services. The On3 Industry Ranking is the most advanced, complete and unbiased rating and ranking measurement in the industry. 

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Joey Porter Jr.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein says Joey Porter Jr.’s NFL comparison is New York Giants cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who also attended Penn State and was drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Zierlein said that Porter has high potential if he plays in the right scheme.

“Ascending cornerback combining traits and above average play strength that create a clear definition of who he is as a player,” Zierlein wrote in his report on Porter. “He can reroute the release and has the frame to close catch windows against big receivers in press-man or Cover 2 looks. Delayed transitions and sluggish change of direction put him in conflict in off coverages, so teams must pay attention to matchups and scheme in order to avoid a field full of yellow laundry. There is work to be done to improve tackle consistency in the run game, but he finishes tackles after a catch. Porter has scheme limitations, but he also has CB1 potential with more work and if utilized properly.”