Joey Porter Jr. promised to make an impact as a rookie after falling out of the NFL Draft’s first round. The former Penn State football star has done just that with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Porter is among five nominees fo
r the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, a significant feat since Porter didn’t begin theop season as a starter in the Pittsburgh defense.
Porter, whom Pittsburgh selected with the first pick of the 2023 draft’s second round, has been a revelation for the Steelers. He moved into the starting lineup in Week 8 against Jacksonville after gradually earning more playing time during the season’s first two months. Pittsburgh eventually assigned Porter to the.
opposing team’s top receivers, and Porter responded. He finished the season with 42 tackles, 10 pass breakups and a huge interception in a Steelers win over Baltimore.
I’m really excited about the trajectory of his career,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Porter. “Probably the most impressive component of where he is, is his mindset. He wants the fight. He wants the tough coverage. He’s extremely competitive in that way. And that’s a great place to build from. He’s got growth ahead of him, but that’s real solid.”
