PITTSBURGH — It was last year during the early portion of OTAs when Mike Tomlin was checking out his new draft picks warming up.
Somehow the conversation moved a year forward, and an all-but-too-familiar name came up — a rising junior cornerback out of Penn State named Joey Porter Jr.
“He’s a first-rounder, no doubt,” Tomlin told a reporter. “He’s big, tall, fast — he’s really good. Sure first-rounder.”
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Tomlin would know. He’s known Joey Porter Jr. since he was 6. Joey Porter Sr., who ranks fifth on Pittsburgh’s all-time sack list, was hired as a Steelers defensive assistant in 2014. Porter Jr. cut his teeth on the practice fields at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., and at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.
“He always told me that he wants me to be better than him.”
Joey Porter Jr. looks to carry on his family “legacy,” while also making his own name in the NFL. https://t.co/ZjSEI1j57V
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) March 3, 2023
During his scholastic career at nearby North Allegheny, Porter Sr. and Tomlin would be side-by-side watching Porter Jr. dominate the WPIAL. In the summer, Porter Jr. and Tomlin’s sons, Mason and Dino, would work out before practice with the likes of Antonio Brown and Joe Haden. Routinely, Tomlin would jump in and show the young kid some pointers.
“I remember as a young kid, I did one-on-ones with AB, so that was a nice treat. I know he wasn’t going 100 percent, but just to be able to line up against him was something special,” Porter Jr. said at the NFL combine last week. “Me and Coach T was pretty cool. I was really close friends with his sons, Mason Tomlin and Dino Tomlin. We played Boys & Girls Club basketball at a young age when I moved to Pittsburgh, and we just had that bond.”
The Steelers have two of the first 32 picks, which is their most since 1989. Their two second-round picks are the most they’ve had in that round in more than a half-century. That means they have enough draft capital to target Porter and still come away with help along the O-line.
(Note: Pick numbers beyond No. 95 won’t be finalized until the league announces compensatory picks.)
First round (No. 17) — CB Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State
The relationship aside, the Steelers are in need of a physical and talented cornerback. Porter is just that, and he is being slotted in the territory where the Steelers make their first-round pick. Porter wasn’t blazing at the combine, but his 4.46 40 is fast enough to go along with a 6-foot-2 1/2, 193-pound frame. Porter fits what the Steelers want to do — a versatile and physical cornerback who can play man coverage.
GO DEEPER
Steelers mock draft reaction: How Joey Porter Jr. could land in Pittsburgh
He was a third-team all-conference pick in 2021, starting all 13 games (51 tackles, one interception, four pass breakups). He was named second-team All-American and first-team all-conference in 2022. He also won the team’s MVP award (27 tackles, 11 pass breakups in 10 starts) despite missing two late-season games with appendicitis.
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The Steelers haven’t put great value in corners over the years. Artie Burns in 2016 is their only first-round cornerback since Chad Scott in 1997. They haven’t developed many corners over the years except for Cameron Sutton, who is a free agent. Even if Sutton returns, the other corner spot is lacking and can be viewed as a great need.
Others considered: OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State; DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Second round (No. 32) — OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
The Steelers need help on the left side of the offensive line immediately. They have Kevin Dotson and Kendrick Green as options at left guard and can always push Dan Moore Jr. to guard if necessary, but the Steelers would be fine with keeping Moore at left tackle. Torrence is a massive interior offensive lineman who would fit in at left guard.
Typically the bigger of the two guards plays on the left side. Torrence measured 6 foot 5 and 330 pounds at the combine and is coming off back-to-back solid seasons, earning grades from Pro Football Focus of 88.0 in 2022 and 88.2 in 2021 at Louisiana. Torrence had a great Senior Bowl and tested well for his size at the combine. Coincidentally, Torrence went to Louisiana before transferring to Florida. Dotson played for the Ragin’ Cajuns before getting drafted by the Steelers three years ago.
Others considered: ILB Jack Campbell, Iowa; CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Second round (No. 49) — OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
The Steelers tend to add tackles around the third round, and Bergeron might be the sleeper in the group. Even though Moore has 33 starts in two years and Chukwuma Okorafor is signed for two more years, immediate depth with a potential starter in waiting is needed.
Bergeron has turned himself from a low-level recruit to a second-day draft pick. He’s very similar to Moore, as he is a much better pass blocker than run blocker. Bergeron allowed 12 pressures on 392 pass-blocking snaps for an 80.9 pass-blocking grade in 2022, per PFF. The Steelers need to start fortifying the line with draft picks rather than also-rans.
Others considered: ILB Trenton Simpson, Clemson; C John Michael-Schmitz, Minnesota
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Third round (No. 80) — WR Nathaniel Dell, Houston
When it comes to second-day receivers, the Steelers will always be in play, even with the likes of Diontae Johnson and George Pickens on the roster. The Steelers have a glaring hole at the slot position, which will be handed to Calvin Austin in the spring and summer. Whether he holds onto it is yet to be seen.
Dell should be a higher pick, but he had a slow 40-yard dash (4.49) for his size (5-foot-8, 165 pounds) at the combine. However, his 10-yard split of 1.49 was very good. Dell would fit into a Matt Canada system of moving around presnap. At his size, he might be too close to what Austin provides. Still, you cannot discount his production: 199 catches and 29 touchdowns over the past two years.
Houston WR Tank Dell was the clear winner of Senior Bowl practices. His height is not going to be for everyone and that’s fine.
That young man’s game is cold 🥶! The variety of releases, foot speed/quickness, route tempo, & route running was fun to see up close! #ratedrookie pic.twitter.com/moJzVwUbUP
— Full-Time Dame 💰 (@DP_NFL) February 6, 2023
Others considered: WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee; Edge Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
Fourth round (No. 119) — OLB K.J. Henry, Clemson
The Steelers know what it is like to have T.J. Watt out. The year prior, they knew what it was to have both Watt and Alex Highsmith missing for a game. Depth has been a big issue at outside linebacker for some time. They have used a plethora of journeymen to fill the depth role, including Malik Reed last year.
Henry isn’t a plug-and-play guy but could provide snaps. He was a team captain for the Tigers and has the athleticism needed to pressure the quarterback. He had 51 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks last year. Analysts either love him or hate him. “He destroys tight ends,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I think he’s instinctive. You’ll see them on the edge, and he’ll be able to see jet sweeps coming from the other side and be able to naturally just kind of widen out and make plays. He’s got a nice little counter rush.”
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Others considered: DL Jaquelin Roy, LSU
Seventh round (No. 236) — LB SirVocea Dennis, Pitt
The Steelers will lose several special teams players in free agency. Dennis is a versatile and talented linebacker who can play special teams while learning the game. Dennis made plays at Pitt. If it wasn’t for his size (6-1, 225), he would be much higher on many teams’ boards based on his stats over the past two years and his intangibles as a leader. The Steelers have only Myles Jack and Mark Robinson under contract at inside linebacker.
Others considered: Edge Tyrus Wheat, Mississippi State; TE Austin Stogner, South Carolina
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Seventh round (No. 248) — QB Max Duggan, TCU
The Steelers need to add a young quarterback in the draft who plays similarly to Kenny Pickett. Duggan proved to be a winner at TCU last year and earned a chance to show what he can do in the NFL. If the Steelers keep Mitch Trubisky, a project like Duggan makes sense.
Others considered: QB Jaren Hall, BYU
(Photo of Joey Porter Jr.: Rich Barnes / USA Today)