Steelers Joey Porter Jr. puts a target on his back, declares himself the best CB in the league
Outside of QB and LT, no position in the NFL has a bigger learning curve than Corner. That curve often entails a rough start as a rookie, especially if you're viewed the way Joey Porter JR. was, where every week you're matching up with the opposing team's best receiver. Well, after showing he was more […]
Outside of QB and LT, no position in the NFL has a bigger learning curve than Corner.
That curve often entails a rough start as a rookie, especially if you're viewed the way Joey Porter JR. was, where every week you're matching up with the opposing team's best receiver.
Well, after showing he was more than capable, Porter has proclaimed himself the best CB in the league:
Best Already?
“Me for sure,” Porter told The Athletic's Mark Kaboly when asked who is the best CB in the league following an OTA practice last week. “There are a lot of good DBs in this league,” Porter said. “Nobody was doing what I was doing going against WR1s the entire year and locking him down. I don’t care if I am mentioned in there or not because they are going to hear my name eventually.”
While waiting his turn to start, Porter first made his presence felt against the Ravens in Week 5 of last season, sealing the game with a goal-line interception while covering Odell Beckham Jr.
But that was just an appetizer to what he would become, where after being inserted to the starting lineup, he quickly became one the best defenders on the team, and honestly, one of the best CBs in the league.
Among all corners who were targeted at least 50 times, Porter allowed a completion percentage of a mere 47.4%, which was the best among all active CBs in the league, per PFF.
He was so dominant, that only two times all year did a WR corps allocate more than 50 air yards against him.
“I always try to keep my confidence up, my swagger up,” Porter told Kaboly. “Coming into the building, I always felt that I was that guy. You have to work to get that respect, but I think everybody understands what I can bring to the table. I always had the mentality as a kid of wanting the best just to see where I stack up. I am always going to pick me over anybody else. I always have had that confidence.”
So look, is Porter the best CB in the league? No, not yet. But there is no position where you need more irrational confidence than defensive back.
The thing is, that confidence and his statement may not be that irrational should he follow up his rookie campaign with a similar season across a full slate in 2024.
