One of the Pittsburgh Steelers' clearest rising stars is cornerback Joey Porter Jr. In fact, former teammate Patrick Peterson recently praised him as the cornerstone of the Steelers' defense. Despite that recognition, Porter continues to be overlooked in offseason rankings and lists. Most recently, he was left off two major annual rankings. Former Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden used his regular NFL on CBS show to defend the former Penn State standout. McFadden and JP Acosta ranked the NFL's secondaries on Pushing the Pile, where McFadden explained what makes Porter so effective. He also sounded fed up with the continued lack of recognition.
“He’s the most under-appreciated corner in the National Football League. Because the thing about [Joey Porter Jr.], when you watch him play, you have to watch the game because, oftentimes, his impact will not be seen on the stat sheet,” McFadden said. “When you watch him play, he just erased wide receivers.”
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Put Some Respect on Porter's Name
One of the most common criticisms of Porter's game is his lack of interceptions. However, as McFadden pointed out, Porter consistently takes away opposing teams' top wide receivers. During the same segment, McFadden noted that Porter has held elite receivers like Ja'Marr Chase in check. Accomplishing that is no easy feat. McFadden's passion may very well stem from the continued lack of respect Porter receives.
Porter is, of course, the son of McFadden's Super Bowl XL teammate Joey Porter Sr. Few people understand what the Porter legacy means to the Steelers better than McFadden. But Porter Jr. is more than just the son of a franchise legend. He is establishing himself as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks and becoming a cornerstone of the Steelers' defense.
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Porter is a Cornerstone of the Steelers
Peterson didn't just call Porter the cornerstone of the Steelers' defense, he labeled him a cornerstone of the NFL. The Porter legacy is one Steelers fans can proudly embrace. This isn't a case of a famous last name earning someone a roster spot. Porter has earned his role as the Steelers' CB1 through his performance, and he'll likely be paid accordingly in the near future.
Porter continues to elevate his game as he climbs the NFL's cornerback hierarchy. There is little doubt that his impact extends well beyond Pittsburgh. While some national analysts continue to overlook him, they're likely to discover soon enough that they shouldn't have.
