INDIANAPOLIS -- It wasn't that long ago that Joey Porter Jr. tagged along with his father to the the Steelers' practice facility while Joey Porter served on Mike Tomlin's coaching staff.
Porter Jr. and Tomlin's son, Dino, would play around on the South Side practice fields, even getting the chance to go one-on-one with a great receiver such as Antonio Brown.
"That was a nice treat," Porter Jr. recalled while addressing reporters Thursday morning in the NFL Combine media center. "I know he wasn't going 100%, but just to be able to line up against him was something special."
Now, Porter Jr.'s all grown up and one of the top cornerbacks in this year's draft class, and it just so happens the Steelers really need to improve at cornerback. And, with ties to the Tomlin family, the Steelers organization and, of course, his father's legacy, it's a lot for a young man to carry around before his NFL career begins.
Not every player grows up the way Porter Jr. did. His father was a very accomplished player in his own right, spending the majority of his 13-year career in Pittsburgh and still ranks fifth all-time in Steelers history with 60 sacks. When Porter made his way into the coaching ranks, Porter Jr. got access to people that would set him up in the best possible way to follow in his father's footsteps.
Porter Jr. formed a tight bond with Tomlin's sons, Dino and Mason, even playing boys and girls club basketball after the Porter family moved back to Pittsburgh. Those bonds continued with playing on the practice fields with Dino and walking the hallways of the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, giving Porter Jr. an opportunity to learn as much as he could.
"I definitely remember a lot. That was a core memory of mine," Porter Jr. said. "Growing up and being able to have that experience with (Mike) and Dino Tomlin means a lot.
"I just came in to be a sponge with every guy that was in the facility. They really didn't have too much time to talk to me or tell me too much information. But, yeah, it was a great experience."
Porter Jr. turned into a four-star recruit out of North Allegheny High School, and continued his path to the NFL just a couple hours away under James Franklin at Penn State. He quickly learned that all of the experience he had growing up, all of the benefit of being the son of a star NFL player, only went so far.
Porter Jr. saw action in only four games as a redshirt freshman, and the next year had its fair share of obstacles as he broke up only two passes and was shut out in the interception department in eight games.
"It definitely took some time coming in as a young freshman, not knowing everything, thinking I knew everything," Porter Jr. said. "It took a couple years, but it was great years that I needed."
Porter Jr. took off in 2021, racking up 55 combine tackles with three passes defended, one interception, and a much-improved quarterback rating of 84.7 when targeted. The jump in production made Porter Jr. seriously think about declaring for the NFL Draft. However, his father and mother, Christy, had a tough conversation with their son to tell him he needed to stay in college.
"I took that and listened to them. My dad's been there before," Porter Jr. said. "You definitely don't want to hear that from your parents. But, I knew it was from good intentions. And, they were right. If I didn't, I don't think I would be in this position right now talking to you guys."
The wisdom of Porter Jr.'s parents paid off as he took his game to another level as a redshirt junior in 2022. In 10 games, Porter Jr. recorded 28 combined tackles with nine passes defended and surrendered a quarterback rating of 63.6 when targeted. This shot his draft stock up near the top of a very deep and richly-talented crop of cornerbacks here in Indianapolis.
And, as previously mentioned, the Steelers really could use one of these talented cornerbacks, with or without the re-signing of Cam Sutton.
"I'm a physical press corner that's going to get in your face, and do my job and do it well," Porter Jr. said. "I feel like I'm CB1 for a reason. I feel like I'm the best corner here. I'm here to show my talents and prove why."
Porter Jr. has already formally met with the Steelers in Indianapolis, though that feels more like a formality at this point. If there's any player in this draft class that the Steelers know the most about, it's Porter Jr. And, they'll know just how much of his father is in him, and maybe be grateful that he possesses some of his mother's traits as well.
"She's more laid back, poised. She likes to smile a lot more," Porter Jr. said with a smile. "That whole attitude and character about her, I feel like I do that well. ... I'm like my dad on the field and my mom off the field. I say that's a good mix."
Anyone who knows anything about Tomlin knows a player's makeup is just as important, if not more so, as what they can do on the football field. And, if the Steelers truly entertained the idea of taking Porter Jr. if he were available at 17th overall, it had better be for reasons other than the name on the back of the jersey.
A great place to start for Porter Jr. to make his own stamp on the league is to do what his father has urged him to do.
"The main thing he always told me: He wants me to be better than him. That's what I'm going to strive to do. That's why I'm here," Porter Jr. said. "My family really motivated me. It's a legacy standpoint for me. My dad's been there before, he's done it. I want to do the same thing, and be better.
"(He told me to) just to be myself, no matter what. People are always going to make comparisons. I have my name. He has his name for a reason. I just do what I love to do, and that's play football."
Porter Jr. possess some very attractive traits that would fit well into what the Steelers want in a cornerback. On top of his physicality and ability to play in press coverage, Porter Jr. possesses great length and has ideal size at 6-2 and 194 pounds. His ability to shut down receivers and a drastic improvement this past season in reducing interference and holding penalties is also something that makes him one of the highest-graded cornerbacks this year.
"Now, a lot of organizations like a long, lengthy corner that can run," Porter Jr. said. "I feel like I fit that build. I can be physical too."
One area where he lags behind some of the other cornerbacks such as Illinois' Devon Witherspoon, Oregon's Christian Gonzalez or maybe even Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes, is the ability to take the ball away. Porter Jr. only recorded one interception in his college career.
Remember, these aren't the Steelers of 10-plus years ago. No longer do the Steelers prioritize the Ike Taylor types that can shut down receivers but struggle to create turnovers. Tomlin, Teryl Austin and Grady Brown want guys that can take the ball away.
Porter knows, whether it's related to the Steelers or not, that he needs to rack up more interceptions. He's spent time working on tracking the ball and working on jug machines whenever he can.
"That's very important. That's what we do as a corner -- make turnovers," Porter Jr. said. "I feel like I left some money out there on the field this year. I'm definitely going to work on that so I can make more plays.
"But, if you can't do that, you better hold that guy at least under 100 (yards)."
That's why Porter Jr. isn't hung up on the lack of interceptions. He believes, with his style of play, the interceptions will come. He also doesn't believe it will be the hinderance that keeps him from becoming one of the top picks in this draft class.
"For some guys I would think so, but not for me," Porter Jr. said. "I know what I bring to the table and I know what I can do. I'm not too worried about that."
This week in Indianapolis, Porter Jr. is focused on showing off his game speed, proving to teams that he can run with any receiver he matches up against. And, with the Steelers meeting with virtually every cornerback in town, the ties to Pittsburgh will remain until we see how the first night of the draft plays out.
Until that time, the tantalizing idea of wearing the same black and gold uniform his father did will live on. And, it's a destination Porter Jr. would be more than happy with.
"It would mean a lot for me and my family," Porter Jr. said. "I've been in the Pittsburgh area for a little bit. Staying at home would mean a lot."
