What are the expectations for Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr.?

Sometimes what you see on television doesn’t match was some outlets suggest when talking about a player’s performance. There are times you might think a player stood out in a good way, only to be told they underperformed.

I’m not an Xs and Ox guy, I leave that to people who know more about that aspect of the game, but I also watch every second of Pittsburgh Steelers games every year. So, considering I have two eyes and a brain, I am able to at least trust some of what I’m seeing, even though I’ve been wrong before.

The other day our own Jeremy Betz shared this tweet from The 33rd Team talking about defensive backs who were targeted over 50 times, yet didn’t allow a touchdown. There were three names on the list, and Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was one of those three players.

Take a look for yourself:

Every DB Targeted 50+ times this past season with Zero TDs Allowed:

🚫 Joey Porter Jr.
🚫 Nate Wiggins
🚫 Cooper DeJean

End of list. pic.twitter.com/oAcq7PPBYv

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 2, 2025

There are caveats to this statistic which need to be revealed. If Porter gave up a long reception, but tackled the player at the one-yard line, it goes as he didn’t give up a touchdown. Even if the next play was a one-yard touchdown run, it keeps that blemish off Porter’s record. But those are semantics at this point, the question I have in my head for another year is what are the expectations for Porter Jr.?

Last year I was expecting Porter Jr. to be a lockdown cornerback, but I can’t say he lived up to that moniker. Clearly the aforementioned statistic says he played at a high level, but was he truly considered a lockdown player?

What most fans will suggest they remember of Porter is how “handsy” he is with the opposing wide receivers he’s covering. Who can forget the game in 2024 when Porter was flagged six times in one game? It was what led us on the podcast side to calling Porter Jr. “Six Flags” for the majority of the season.

Some will argue Porter needs some better help around him in the secondary, but it all comes back to what your expectations are for the young cornerback. I love Porter’s skill set, and think he is more than capable of being an elite cornerback in the league, but his game needs some fine tuning.

What do you think? What are your expectations for Porter Jr. this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft.