Tag: joey porter jr

Steelers fleece Bears (again) in trade for Justin Fields

Steelers GM Omar Khan has the Bears number in these trades.

When Justin Fields failed to impress in what became his final season with the Chicago Bears, people began to speculate what they would want in return for the quarterback’s services. Chicago holds the first overall pick and has been linked to USC’s Caleb Williams for months.

A 2024 second-round, third-round — maybe more? Too steep for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were in the market for a starter after Mitch Trubisky’s release, followed by trading Kenny Pickett.

That quickly changed as QB-needy teams began to acquire their new signal callers and the market for Fields softened. The Bears also steadily lost leverage as they backed themselves into a corner with the idea of drafting Williams.

This is when General Manager Omar Khan made his move. Despite already signing Russell Wilson, Khan saw an opportunity to fleece the Bears again and they took it. The Steelers ended up landing Fields for a sixth-round pick in 2025 that could potentially turn into a fourth if Fields plays more than half the snaps in 2024.

This follows up Khan convincing the Bears to give up a second-round pick for Chase Claypool in November of 2022. The Steelers turned that pick into cornerback Joey Porter Jr. So in essence, the Steelers traded Claypool and a sixth-round pick for Joey Porter Jr. and Justin Fields. Not too shabby.

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Joey Porter Jr. ripped on podcast rant by ex-Steelers CB

Steven Nelson is still bitter about how things ended with the Steelers.

Does every NFL team have so many former players with an axe to grind like the Pittsburgh Steelers do? It seems like more and more former Steelers whom the team didn’t keep wants to get in front of a microphone and rip the Steelers.

The latest cornerback is Steven Nelson. He took to his podcast (because doesn’t everyone have a podcast now?) and decided to throw a little tantrum about how his time with the team ended. But then he decided to take it a step further and take a not-so-subtle shot at starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Nelson had the audacity to say that the Steelers still haven’t found a corner yet since he left despite drafting Porter in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft and he ended up being one of the two or three best rookie cornerbacks in the league last season.

Taking it a step further, he was also taking a shot at Patrick Peterson who the Steelers added last season. Peterson will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires and while he wasn’t his best last season, I’m not sure Nelson has the resume to insult him either.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. admits 2023 draft ‘still gets under my skin’

For Joey Porter Jr., the 2023 NFL draft was a series of highs and lows.

For Joey Porter Jr., the 2023 NFL draft was a series of highs and lows. Lows because he dropped past the first round and highs because he ultimately went to the team he was destined to play for: The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Porter felt all along that he was the top cornerback in the class and that he should’ve been selected as such. But it all worked out in the end.

“It still gets under my skin sometimes,” Porter told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “I felt like I was CB1 for sure, and it didn’t pan out that way. And luckily it didn’t pan out that way because I ended up here. I feel like it was worth it.”

As any NFL player would, Porter had a chip on his shoulder after being passed on by 31 teams.

“I feel like it elevated my game even more because I came into the league with a chip on my shoulder to prove myself. I feel like I’m still proving myself every day when I step on the field. I don’t feel like I am there yet. I have a lot to learn.”

Porter performed like a player scorned all season but intends to maintain that attitude until the Steelers hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

“I got to win a couple of rings for that to go away,” said Porter.

Not only will the chip not go away, but neither will his confidence.

“It just might be a Porter thing that we all have. I was like that as a kid,” said Porter. “I always wanted the biggest task. I wanted to make the play.”

Being a first-year player was never too daunting for the son of Steelers legendary linebacker Joey Porter Sr.

“I wanted to be in those positions because I know some people get scared of the bright lights and I look forward to them. I just want to be in that moment every time.”

Porter has high expectations for himself in his second season. He’ll get to put on display everything he learned from year one and continue bullying the opposition’s best pass-catchers.

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T.J. Watt, Joey Porter Jr. finalists for prestigious AP award

Steelers defenders T.J. Watt and Joey Porter Jr. were named finalists for the prestigious AP DPOY, ROY awards. 

Pittsburgh Steelers defenders T.J. Watt and Joey Porter Jr. were named finalists for the prestigious Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards.

The NFL sack leader (19) has been in the conversation for DPOY virtually every season of his seven-year career. Watt has already been named to the PFWA All-NFL team and earned the AFC DPOY distinction from the 101 Awards.

An interesting fact, per NFL/draft analyst Mike Frazer: The last time the 101 awards winner did not win DPOY was 1981, which bodes well for Watt (or Cowboys EDGE Micah Parsons, who won it for the NFC).

Other finalists are Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Parsons, Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland, and Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby.

Porter appeared in all 17 games with 11 starts. Once named starter, he began shadowing the league’s top receivers and wrapped his rookie season with one interception, 42 tackles, 10 pass breakups and a tackle for loss. Porter allowed just 30 completions and one touchdown catch for a 47.6 completion percentage.

In addition to Porter, finalists are Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. named to the PFWA All-Rookie team

Joey Porter quickly became the Steelers best cornerback in 2023.

The Pro Football Writers of America put out its All-Rookie team and one member of the Pittsburgh Steelers made the team. the PFWA named Joey Porter Jr. as one of its cornerbacks, along with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Two Steelers rookies who didn’t make the team were offensive tackle Broderick Jones and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton.

The PWFA went with Dawand Jones of the Cleveland Browns and Darnell Wright of the Chicago Bears instead. At defensive line, it was the Rams Kobie Turner and the Eagles Jalen Carter on the interior defensive line.

Pittsburgh got significant contributions from all three rookies also with rookie edge rusher Nick Herbig. Porter started 11 games in 2023 and quickly became the team’s No. 1 cover corner, shutting down he opposing team’s best receiver week after week.

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Grading every rookie from Steelers 2023 NFL draft class

Here are grades for every rookie in the Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 draft class, including Joey Porter Jr. and Broderick Jones.

2023 was the first Pittsburgh Steelers rookie class built by general manager Omar Khan, As is the norm in the NFL, rookies get very little time to get acclimated before being thrust into a significant role but the Steelers were able to handle their rookie class just right. Here are our grades for the Steelers rookies.

Steelers rookie CB Joey Porter Jr. sounds off after loss to Colts

Joey Porter Jr. wasn’t mincing words when it came to the team’s third straight loss of the season.

It’s the same reaction week after week from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coupled with subpar play is the broken record statement from those who played in it: We played badly.

“We played like s–t today,” Joey Porter Jr. told reporters after the loss. “There’s no sugarcoating that.”

Porter had been playing lights out all season but had a down performance against the Indianapolis Colts, allowing just his second touchdown.

One thing he hasn’t done is give up on the team like it seems others have.

“We’re not happy how we performed — nobody is. We can’t give up now. We’ve got games left. I haven’t given up on the team.”

Earlier this week, Porter was asked about the “rookie wall” so many guys tend to hit at this point in their first year.

“It’s definitely a long season,” he said on Wednesday. “Around this time last year, I’d probably be getting ready for bowl prep, hanging out with the family. But we got more games left. With that aspect, it’s definitely mentally and physically draining, but this is what I signed up for. I’m not complaining. I get to do what I love every day.”

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Steelers CB Joey Porter keeps up shutdown streak

Joey Porter has locked down some of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. proved once again he is one of the best rookie cornerbacks in the NFL this season. Porter has been lined up against the opposition’s best cornerback the last five games and the results speak for themselves. Here’s how Porter has fared against some of the top receivers in the NFL.

Steelers superlatives at the midway point of the season

Here are our midseason awards for the Steelers.

The first half of the 2023 season has been a wild one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defense has been great, the offense has been inconsistent and the wins are coming from unusual places. Since the team is on something of a mini bye week here at the midway point of the year we decided to update our Steelers superlatives, mid-season edition.