Joey Porter Jr.

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		47	3	31	165
2025		14	1	14	52
2024		16	1	7	70
2023		17

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2025		14	52	1.0	1	—	B- B- Top 38%
2024		16	70	0.0	1	—	C- C- Below average
2023		17	43	0.0	1	—	D D Bottom 20%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Earning a B+ Contract Value Index, Joey Porter Jr.'s 4-year pact reflects how Pittsburgh valued the cornerback position market at the point of his 2023 draft selection. The modest $2.4M AAV rookie deal aligns squarely with a second-round cornerback baseline, and the B- performance grade on tape—supported by 52 tackles, 1 interception, and 14 games played in the 2025 season—tells a story of consistent, foundational-level play rather than elite production. What elevates this contract's value proposition is the trajectory narrative: Porter Jr. is entering his fourth professional year still operating on rookie-scale dollars, which means Pittsburgh has locked in a below-market rate for a player whose tape and media perception have begun to shift sharply upward. The recent secondary investments and the broader organizational framing around Porter as a cornerstone piece, combined with PFF's projection of him as a potential lockdown corner, suggest the Steelers view this deal as a stepping stone—one they expect to anchor a significantly larger extension within the next 12-24 months if his 2026 performance delivers on the developmental promise. At his current age (25) and career stage (third-year), Porter Jr. represents exactly the kind of controlled-cost, position-group bet that allows contending teams to manage the salary cap while gambling on internal breakout candidates; if that breakout materializes, Pittsburgh gets a discount-priced foundation player in a critical position before negotiating long-term security.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Joey's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Joey Porter Jr. is a third-year cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying both draft pedigree and the weight of a famous last name into his developing prime. At just 25, he earns a B- grade this season — a meaningful step forward from a C+ in 2024 and a C in his 2023 rookie campaign. The upward trajectory is real, and Porter looks increasingly like a legitimate starter with room to grow. His standout skill is pass breakups, where his 1.00 PD/game absolutely dwarfs the NFL average of 0.33 and clears the elite threshold of 0.91 — that kind of ball-disruption rate draws comparisons to early-career Denzel Ward. His 3.71 tackles per game also exceeds the NFL average of 2.31, showing active, physical involvement in run support. The concern is interceptions: his 0.07 INT/game falls short of the NFL average of 0.10 and lags well behind elite marks of 0.22, suggesting he's winning at the line but not yet converting those disruptions into turnovers. Porter's grade trajectory — C to C+ to B- across three seasons — reflects a player learning the position rather than one plateauing. If he can translate his elite PD rate into interceptions, a jump to the B+ range is well within reach. Watch for improved ball-hawking instincts as his experience compounds entering what should be his athletic peak.

How Joey Compares at the Position

Joey Porter Jr. ranks 63rd of 270 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Joey between Deonte Banks (B) just ahead and Ahkello Witherspoon (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Joey Porter Jr. has emerged as a cornerstone defensive asset for the Pittsburgh Steelers, with media and fan perception shifting decidedly upward heading into 2026. The narrative around him centers on his trajectory as a franchise cornerback worthy of a market-resetting extension, positioning him as a foundational piece of the team's defensive rebuild. While he lacks Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors to date, the volume and tone of recent coverage—focused on contract negotiations and his role in a new Steelers core—reflects genuine organizational confidence and fan optimism about his ceiling. The one cautionary note involves ESPN's cryptic prediction of an unwanted outcome, though the headline tone remains speculative rather than damning. Overall, Porter Jr. is perceived as a rising star and legitimate long-term solution at cornerback, with media sentiment reflecting both his on-field performance and the Steelers' commitment to building around him.