There was a lot of excitement when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Joey Porter Jr. at the top of the second round in 2023. The son of Steelers legend Joey Porter Sr., the younger Porter made some big strides last year. He started to iron out the wrinkles in his game, looking like a true No. 1 corner.
However, former Steelers corner Joe Haden still thinks Porter can reach another level, recently giving him some advice on how to do just that.
“I’ve been talking to him,” Haden said Tuesday on his Deebo and Joe podcast. “Because he’s been going off natural ability. He’s lining up versus these dudes like, ‘I’m 6’3”, 210 [pounds]. You can’t get open on me…’ At the golf outing event, I’m talking to him about, ‘Now you know what you’re doing. Now, you’re starting to look at those splits.’
“You keep going out there, playing one-on-ones with the dude, it don’t matter what he running because you can strap him,” Haden added. “I said, ‘But how much better would you feel now when you know he’s running a slant and you just playing with him like you don’t know.’ Now you get into that position and the slant’s coming, and you baited him. Now, you’re playing one-on-ones, you’re walking out there, ‘I’m gonna guard you no matter what you got… It’s me and you. You’re not gonna catch the ball.'”
Porter’s unique physical gifts have carried him a long way. However, it takes more than just size and athleticism to succeed in the NFL, especially at corner. There’s almost always a bigger or faster wide receiver waiting right around the corner.
That might explain why Porter has had issues with players like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in the past. Some of Porter’s ugliest NFL games have come against that duo. They can match his size and physicality, which has often led to Porter’s penalty issues flaring up.
However, Porter was still great last year, not allowing a touchdown and cutting his penalties down in a big way. He looked like one of the best corners in the league over the second half of the season.
That’s why Porter is seeking a big contract extension. He’s only got one year left on his current deal, and the Steelers have a tough decision to make. Top corner money isn’t cheap at all, with the very best making over $30 million a year. If Porter is seeking a deal like that, then the Steelers might be hesitant to pay him.
On the other hand, if he improves his technique like Haden wants him to, Porter could have an even better 2026 season. That would drive his price up, and the Steelers could seriously risk losing him.
Still, if Porter can refine his technique and rely less on his size and athleticism, he could compete for the title of best corner in the league. Few players at that position have his natural gifts, and if he masters the other nuances of the position, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
It’s been a while since the Steelers drafted and developed a shutdown corner, but Porter could hit that level.
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