When the Pittsburgh Steelers made Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. the 32nd overall pick to open the second round of the 2023 NFL NFL Draft, Pittsburgh secured what was essentially a second first-round player, at least based on draft slot.
Turns out, they secured a second first-round player overall, at least according to the grade the franchise placed on the Penn State standout
According to former running back and NFL analyst Merril Hoge, who now works in the Steelers front office as a scout, the Steelers had a first-round grade on Porter Jr. and were “fortunate” to land the legacy player in the second round, he said during an appearance on the “Not Just Football w/ Cam Heyward” podcast live during the NFL Draft from Stage AE outside of Acrisure Stadium.