2023 NFL Draft Scouting Notes: CB Joey Porter Jr, Penn State

Joey Porter Jr is the son of NFL standout linebacker Joey Porter, and while he doesn’t have his father’s size, he plays with his physicality and relentlessness. Porter fits best in a scheme where he’s asked to play more zone coverage than man, although he is capable in both. However, his instincts and intelligence make him a much better fit in a cover-two scheme than anywhere else.

Joey Porter Jr

CB – Penn State Nittany Lions

HT: 6016
WT: 192
Year: Super Redshirt Sophomore
High School: North Allegheny (Wexford, PA)
Rating: 4-star (0.8969)

Projected Draft Grade: Day One Starter

Projection: Top 20

Now that Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. has declared for the 2023 draft, it's time to get into that tape. The first thing that pops off the screen is that every catch is a contested catch. This guy lives to bother receivers, and he'll put your X-iso to sleep if you're not careful. pic.twitter.com/BDCIeDSeI3
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 1, 2022

Joey Porter Jr scouting notes

Pros:

Good, not great, speed. Very solid overall athlete and could post a very strong RAS.
Decent upper body strength and should be stronger than most of the players in the class at his position.
Very fluid hips. Changes direction seemingly at will and has the capability to make incredible plays with his change of direction ability.
Very physical defender with some power behind his tackle. Would like to see him wrap up more consistently and better. Works the sideline well as an extra defender. Has shown slight improvement in 2022 with his tackling, still not as consistent as I’d like him to be.
Takes good pursuit angles to the ball.
Plays his assignment well in zone coverage. Doesn’t interfere with other zones, trusts the players around him.
Typically in a position to make a play. Makes extraordinary reads at times and pulls off crazy plays with his body control.

Cons:

Doesn’t recover well after surrendering a good release.
Very handsy in coverage, concerning how many flags he drew. Typically likes to get hands-on and switches to a mirror technique.
Struggles in press and surrenders far too much positioning. Relies on his athleticism to make up for any mistakes that he has.
Not as physical in press as he is when playing other coverages.