Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is likely one of the uncommon cases of being born engulfed into NFL stardom. His father, Joey Porter, was among the best go rushers of the 2000s whereas Jr. was nonetheless in diapers. If Porter Jr. was to pursue soccer, his legacy was at all times going to return totally geared up with big expectations. He’s met them in each method. He began as a four-star highschool recruit and simply completed up a four-year profession with the Nittany Lions, most just lately being named a second-team All American.
The pre-draft course of has felt quiet in some methods for Porter Jr., however that’s to not say he’s not passing the mandatory assessments previous to the 2023 NFL Draft. There’s loads to love about what the three-year Big 10 starter brings to the desk. Need a smash mouth nook that performs identical to his father as a rush edge? Look no additional than Mr. Porter.
Joey Porter Jr. has the bodily profile to trigger nightmares in press protection
There is an actual case to be made for Porter being one of the best bump-and-run nook on this class. His mixture of size (34-inch arms) and physicality on the route launch level provides him the higher hand to reroute receivers in the direction of the sideline on vertical ideas to the boundary. Porter isn’t probably the most fluid athlete within the class, however there’s loads of turn-and-burn potential for him with receivers seeking to get vertical.
His battles within the NFL with ball-winning receivers who wish to get vertical alongside the strains of Ja’Marr Chase and DK Metcalf are certain to be very aggressive.
Porter has been gifted with terribly size on the cornerback place. He’s bought the power to squeeze out zones with that profile and he makes use of his size in a method that ought to permit him to be drafted right into a heavy zone scheme within the NFL. The soccer IQ is there in an enormous method for Porter, who clearly has been digging into the technical facets of the sport from a younger age.
Joey Porter Jr struggles with staying in section to cowl smaller, twitchier receivers
It’s very clear in Porter’s movie what his clear-cut strengths and weaknesses are. While the size and physicality flashes in an enormous method, the power to blow up out of his transitions is recognizable. Smaller receivers who can lower on a dime are going to offer Porter a world of bother within the NFL if he receives that type of matchup. While no person can query his potential to show and run, the priority is available in staying inside section on in-breaking routes the place he isn’t leveraged to press his matchup out of the display.
Don’t sleep on Purdue WR Charlie Jones as a mid-round choice for the #Patriots. 110 catches, 1,361 yards, and 12 TDs within the Big Ten final 12 months.
One of the highest technicians on this class with a 4.43s 40. Some wins in opposition to Joey Porter Jr. right here. pic.twitter.com/t1RxrHFWXP
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 28, 2023
Porter’s testing numbers have been glorious on the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, however there’s a motive he didn’t carry out the agility drills. He’s not a silky easy brief space participant. That is smart contemplating the dimensions profile. He’s actually no Jaire Alexander from a brief space standpoint, however you’re not drafting Porter for the way he strikes brief. The bulk of his points come from his lack of purity in his motion and overaggressiveness to seize on the high of breaks.
How Joey Porter Jr measured up on the mix
The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine was pleasant in the direction of Porter Jr who raised his inventory with a large number of spectacular testing numbers.
40-yd sprint: 4.46s
Broad Jump: 10’9
Vertical Jump: 35”
What others are saying
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had this to say about Porter Jr:
An extended, athletic cowl man, Joey Porter Jr. has the fluidity and velocity to match up with NFL extensive receivers on the surface. His aggressive play model makes him a simple goal for flags, however he competes with the bodily mindset befitting his namesake (his dad, Joey Porter, performed 13 NFL seasons).
An space scout for an AFC staff had this to say to NFL.com concerning Porter Jr’s model of play:
He can’t change path effectively however he’s robust and bodily, so you place him in press and let him play within the receiver’s pocket all sport.
Porter Jr is at his greatest enjoying in press-man/quarters conditions in addition to when he can face up briefly to intermediate zones outdoors the numbers. A staff who desires to play their corners off or bail them right into a non-aggressive Cover 3 will not be going to get probably the most out of Porter’s skills. He will want an aggressive play-caller on the defensive aspect to maximise his abilities.
A staff on the lookout for an alpha to unlock on the protection to get rid of elite X receivers within the NFL ought to need their arms on Joey Porter Jr. As an NFL legacy, Porter is prone to be adored by NFL decision-makers. If that wasn’t sufficient, his play on the sector is loads sufficient to get him drafted within the high half of spherical one. Big, lengthy, and athletic is the secret within the NFL and the correct scheme can masks the deficiencies he possesses.