Steelers draft grades: Pittsburgh steals the show in the 2023 NFL Draft
By Tommy Jaggi
Round 2 (pick 32): CB Joey Porter Jr.
This is another pick that is incredibly difficult to find fault with. Joey Porter Jr. was the 17th overall player on the consensus big board (comprised of the rankings of Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah, Dane Brugler, Danny Kelly, and PFF). He was my 15th player this year.
I know some fans are going to view this as a 'homer' pick due to Porter's obvious connections to the organization (his father was a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Steelers). However, I think that's incredibly unfair to him. Porter has exceptional length and physicality with good instincts and just the right attitude for the cornerback position.
Considering the value, I give this selection an 'A+'. Porter was the highest-remaining player on my 2023 draft board and he comes at a premium position. The only thing I may have liked more is if the Steelers were able to move back and pick up an extra Day 2 pick while still landing a top player on the board.
Regardless, I can't complain about this at all. I know that Pittsburgh has struggled when it comes to drafting cornerbacks in the past, but Porter is no Artie Burns or Senquez Golson. His biggest issue in college is that he was only able to take the ball away once in four years. However, I do believe that he's going to develop into a very solid boundary cornerback in the NFL.