Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The 2024 season for Joey Porter Jr. was a gentle reminder that development is far from linear for young players, even if their rookie seasons showed flashes of greatness. During his debut season with Pittsburgh, the Penn State product finished first in the NFL in EPA/target among 115 cornerbacks with at least 25 targets, according to SIS. For a player whose scheme specificity likely caused him to fall out of the first round entirely, the early returns were fantastic, and he was rewarded for his performance by being named to the first-team All-Rookie team by the PFWA. But last season, Porter’s numbers fell to 76th in that same metric, which can be heavily attributed to his league-leading 15 penalties.
From the outside looking in, it makes you wonder just how much that was taken into account when switching defensive backs coaches this offseason, knowing the rewards on his development could be sizable. Even after being unable to build off his strong start to his career, there’s little to suggest that significant cause for concern is necessary in this case, though. When you go back to the film, there are still a plethora of high-end reps of him blanketing quality pass catchers. The NFL is a space league, and it’s difficult for receivers to create separation from him, and his length is a major weapon to help close that gap. This is an example of a good, young player that is still a bit rough around the edges.Â
In other instances, when a team decides to bring in two accomplished cornerbacks like Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey, it could raise some eyebrows about their faith in a young player at the same position. From the Steelers standpoint, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The roles and responsibilities of the three covermen will become ever more apparent as we get further into the summer, but I would make the argument that Porter is actually the biggest beneficiary of the Steelers’ most eventful offseason in quite some time. It’s one thing to infuse new teachings from a coach, but being able to lean on two mentors with impeccable NFL resumes should prove invaluable for the youngsters.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. during a game against the New York Giants in Oct. 30, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Both Slay and Ramsey are two very different cornerbacks from a stylistic standpoint, further proving that there’s more than one way to get the job done effectively. But there are elements from each of their games that Porter would be wise to try and emulate. Let’s talk about the reigning Super Bowl champ first.
In an interview with ESPN’s Mina Kimes, Slay declared that he’s going to help increase Porter’s turnover production after securing just two interceptions dating back to college. As the sports active leader in pass breakups with 160 (7th all-time in NFL history), he’s definitely in the upper echelon of playmaking cornerbacks of the modern era. The primary reason for that production is because he’s a technical savant with an expertise in route recognition and the fundamentals of the position. Slay has outstanding footwork, is a master of staying square to his man throughout the rep and is controlled when playing the pocket. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s a fluent communicator, something that will be welcomed on defense after last year’s late season collapse.Â
When he entered the league, his movement skills were truly rare, but even as those physical gifts have waned over the years, he’s been able to transform his game to remain a key cog on some truly devastating defenses. If looking for teachtape on how to backpedal from an off-alignment, watching Slay’s tape is an excellent starting point. Other useful tidbits of information, like proper zone spacing and understanding how to bait quarterbacks into ill-advised decisions, should help increase Porter’s turnover opportunities. Finally, as the oldest starting cornerback in the NFL, I’m sure that there are things to be learned from it as it relates to how to take care of your body in such a physically demanding sport.
From a size and length standpoint, Porter shares a lot of similarities with the Steelers newest acquisition, Jalen Ramsey, with both players being over 6-foot-1 with over 33-inch arms. The biggest difference at this stage of their careers is physicality in a couple of key areas. First, Ramsey is a legitimate tone setter on the back end with major striking power as a tackler with a career sub-10% tackle rate per PFF. But even more impressive is his temperament when playing the run and doing the dirty work. Ramsey’ block deconstruction skills are quantifiably elite, with a supreme understanding of how to weaponize his length in this regard. With today’s league hyper-fixated on making cornerbacks tackle as much as possible, having a star in this regard is a luxury not afforded to many squads.Â
For much of his career, Ramsey has been tasked with shadowing the opposing team’s best player, a great responsibility that he certainly takes a lot of pride in. But with more offenses moving their primary targets around the formation and the amount of condensed split looks continually increasing, cornerbacks have to be able to play closer to the core. This means not having the sideline as an extra defender and dealing with more two-way go’s. This versatility is something that has made Ramsey one of the most uniquely built defenders in the league because of how his role within the defensive structure can remain flexible on a weekly basis based on what is required for that specific game plan. The lines between boundary and slot are getting awfully blurry, and if Porter wants to reach his ceiling, continuing to diversify his skill set beyond being strictly a press-man boundary corner is required.Â
Not only does the third-year starter get to play behind one of the league’s most feared pass rushes, but he also has one of the sport’s best pure technicians and the most versatile defensive back of his era in the same meeting room. Porter’s development into a more well-rounded player is one of the most intriguing storylines for 2025. Talent is obviously important, but the situation that young players get dropped into matters way more than most realize. This is an environment of a lifetime for a cornerback that is extremely talented.Â
A massive opportunity awaits Porter this upcoming fall, with him having a realistic chance to help form one of the league’s most dangerous secondaries. If that reality indeed comes to fruition, extension talks will begin next offseason, and rightfully so. For as talented as this Steelers roster is defensively, the core is aging, and the franchise is begging for one of these talented up-and-comers to take the reins and establish themselves as foundational pillars for the next era of Pittsburgh football. It’s safe to say that I’m optimistic.
Mentioned In This Article: Darius Slay Jalen Ramsey Joey Porter Jr. Steelers top