The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new starting cornerback tandem. Joey Porter Jr. on one side, and new signing Jamel Dean on the other. On the stat sheet, it’s an exciting duo. But the two have very similar play styles as well. The Steelers clearly had a goal in mind pairing Dean with Porter, and that’s something Dean is excited to work toward as he kicks off his Steelers tenure.
“I’m just gonna continue playing the style of football I’ve been playing since I’ve been in the league. And then you know, I don’t really have to say much to Joey ’cause his play speaks for itself. So just knowing that you got that comfortability, that he’s gonna hold it down on his side, and I’m gonna hold it down on mines,” Dean said Friday via the Steelers’ YouTube channel.
Porter took a massive step forward during the 2025 season. He showed a lot of promise during his previous years in the league but had yet to really put it all together. He had some issues with flags, but that wasn’t nearly as big of an issue last year. Porter had terrific marks in completion rate allowed (48.5 percent), passer rating allowed (57.2), and he didn’t allow a touchdown for the second consecutive year.
While Porter was impressive, Dean was nearly as good in Tampa Bay. With seven years of NFL experience, he’s been around for a while longer than Porter. But his seventh year might have been his best. Dean allowed a completion rate of just 49.2 percent and a passer rating of just 63.1, giving up two touchdowns on the year.
The Steelers’ cornerback room is starting to take shape, and Porter and Dean seem to fit well together. Each are capable of playing near the line of scrimmage and using their length to jam receivers. They both play physical and are never scared to get involved in the run game.
Behind them, the Steelers have some decent depth, as well. Porter and Dean should play on the outside. Jalen Ramsey and Brandin Echols are both capable of playing the nickel. Behind those names, the Steelers also have Asante Samuel Jr., Donte Kent and Cory Trice Jr. all under contract, as well.
The Steelers badly need more consistency on defense in 2026 than they had in 2027, especially at the cornerback position. Dean should bring that, and he sounds pretty excited to share the field with Porter in the process.
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