2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State University

Penn State corner Joey Porter Jr., is seen as a potential first-round pick. We break down the skill set he brings to the table here.

Joey Porter Jr. is the son of former star linebacker Joey Porter and he is very much making a name for himself. He’s been a reliable presence on the Nittany Lions’ defense for the last three seasons.

His consistency, along with his impressive size and wingspan make him a highly coveted NFL draft prospect. He is a part of a very talented corner class and very much worthy of a top 15 pick.

I break down the strengths and weaknesses in his game here.

Overview

Birthdate: 7/26/2000

Height/Weight: 6-foot2 ½, 193 pounds

High School: North Allegheny High School

Recruit (247): 2019 class 4 star No. 345 Natl No. 34 CB

2022 Stats: 0 INT 9 PBU 5 Stops

2022 PFF: 73.2

2021 Stats: 1 INT 3 PBU 14 Stops

2021 PFF: 67.2

Strengths

Limits Mistakes
- Does a very good job of keeping WRs in front of him and not letting them get behind him.
- Ensures that when he does allow separation he’s not giving up explosive plays.
- Prevents big pass plays as well as any CB in this class over the course of his career.
- Longest play he gave up in Penn State career was just 34 yards (PFF).
Size/Wingspan
- Size and length combo is rare for corners.
- Allows him to go up against just about any WR in the league and matchup well from a size/physicality perspective.
- Son of former star edge rusher/outside linebacker Joey Porter and you can see it in his build.
- 6-foot-2 ½ (96th percentile for CBs), 80 ⅞ inch wingspan (97th percentile), 34 inch arm length (98th percentile).
Production
- Three year starter at Penn State and consistently produced.
- First team all Big Ten last season.
- Made at least third team all Big Ten in either coaches or media voting in all three seasons of starting.

Weaknesses

Upside is somewhat limited
- Played a bit more of a conservative play style at Penn State, which forced him to give up separation underneath at times.
- Role he played at Penn State wasn’t as difficult as normal for first round corners as he played a decent amount of off-man coverage.
- Not to say he can’t play press man in the NFL as he has the size and athleticism, plus he did it well when asked to at Penn State, but didn’t do it as consistently as you’d like to see from a first round CB.
- In comparison to Witherspoon and Gonzalez their coverage assignments were more difficult than Porter Jr.’s as they played press man more consistently.
- Example being the Ohio State game where he played with a cushion on a lot of snaps as opposed to a bump and run type of man coverage.