Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. Defends Top-Five Corner Status

The cornerback says he's been unfairly criticized for penalties despite strong coverage stats.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:55am

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. believes he's been a top-five corner in the NFL since his rookie season in 2023, despite criticism over the penalties he's committed. Porter argues his low touchdown and yardage allowed numbers show he's an elite cover corner, and that the focus on his penalties is unfair compared to how other defensive backs are evaluated.

Why it matters

Porter's comments come as he enters a contract year, and the Steelers' willingness to extend him could signal how the team views his performance and value relative to the penalties he's accrued.

The details

Porter was a second-round pick in 2023 and has started for the Steelers for most of his three-year career so far. He says he hasn't allowed a touchdown since midway through his rookie season, and that opposing teams have had a low completion percentage when throwing his way. However, Porter acknowledges he committed too many penalties, especially in his second season, which he feels has unfairly overshadowed his strong coverage skills.

  • Porter was drafted by the Steelers in the second round in 2023.
  • He has started for the Steelers for the majority of his three NFL seasons.

The players

Joey Porter Jr.

A starting cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers who was drafted in the second round in 2023.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The NFL team that drafted and employs Joey Porter Jr. as a starting cornerback.

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What they’re saying

“That's what people really harp on my game about, is the PI's and penalties. But it's like, you hold no other DB under that microscope or grade them under just — I haven't gave up a touchdown in three years. Not one. No wide receiver put over 50, 60 yards on my head alone and I travel with the best of them. And they want to talk about penalties. Even to bring up penalties this year. I had five, which equaled out to 50-something yards. You're saying I'm not top-five because I had 50 yards in penalties? Like that's crazy.”

— Joey Porter Jr., Steelers Cornerback

What’s next

The Steelers will have to decide whether to offer Porter a contract extension this offseason, which could indicate how the team views his performance and value relative to the penalties he has accrued.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around how to properly evaluate defensive backs, with Porter arguing that his strong coverage stats should outweigh the penalties he has committed. As he enters a contract year, the Steelers' willingness to extend him could set an important precedent for how teams balance these factors when assessing cornerback talent.