The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t had much success at the cornerback position in recent years, but their fortunes could be changing after a successful rookie season from 2023 second-round pick, Joey Porter Jr.

Not only was Porter Jr. one of the best rookie cornerbacks in the NFL, the numbers show he was also among the better players at his position, regardless of experience.

The Penn State product gave up a completion rate of just 47.6% in coverage, the sixth-lowest in the NFL, and he surrendered a passer rating of just 70.1.

Porter Jr.’s impressive campaign certainly caught the attention of executives, scouts and coaches around the NFL. In an ESPN article ranking the top-10 cornerbacks in the league based on their opinions, Porter Jr. didn’t make the cut but did receive at least one top-10 vote.

Making Porter Jr.’s season more impressive was the fact that he often shadowed the opponent’s best receiver on a weekly basis, so it wasn’t an easy road for the 23-year-old, who ended up thriving in those situations.

The fact that Porter Jr. is already receiving a top-10 vote says a lot about what he was able to show in 2023, and there’s no question that he will crack this top-10 list in 2025 if he can build upon the success of his first season in the NFL.