Vikings Draft Thermometer: CB Joey Porter Jr.
Josh Frey
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Welcome to the Vikings Draft Thermometer series, PurplePTSD‘s one-stop shop for all your 2023 NFL Draft needs. Throughout this series, we will be examining a number of prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, what exactly their role could be at the NFL level, and most importantly, whether or not they could end up playing their first NFL snaps in a Vikings uniform. With that, let’s take a look at today’s prospect: Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr.
Background
- Height: 6’2
- Weight: 195 pounds
- School: Penn State
- Games Watched: Purdue (2022), Ohio State (2022), Minnesota (2022)
Statistics
- 2019: 3 tackles, 1 pass defense (3 games)
- 2020: 33 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 pass defenses (8 games)
- 2021: 50 tackles, 4 pass defenses, 1 INT (13 games)
- 2022: 27 tackles, 11 pass defenses, 1 fumble recovery (10 games)
Strengths
The physicality that Joey Porter Jr. plays with is overwhelming at the line of scrimmage. He takes full advantage of his sturdy 6’2 frame when meeting receivers on the snap. This allows him to force receivers off-route and into the sideline when guarding on the outside. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a very sure tackler when he gets the opportunity.
Porter is also a very versatile defensive back. Penn State primarily used him as a press-man CB on the outside, but he can occasionally step into the slot and even took some snaps at free safety for the Nittany Lions.
Finally, he has excellent speed for someone of his size, which allows him to track fast receivers and makes him a blitzing threat from his CB position.
Weaknesses
Porter needs to be more disciplined in his coverage at the next level. In the Ohio State game alone, he had two big penalties called against him, and that can’t happen for him to be a lockdown corner at the next level.
In addition, his ball skills are adequate for a CB, but they aren’t an elite asset to his game. There were a few occasions where he simply dropped interceptions.
NFL Projection
- Draft Round: Top 10-Mid First
- Immediate Role: Starting outside CB
- Best Case Scenario: Patrick Surtain II
- Vikings Draft Thermometer: 20
Joey Porter Jr. is one of the best cornerbacks in a very deep class at the position. There’s a chance that he lands somewhere in the top 10, but at the very least, it seems doubtful that he’d make it into the 20s. Because of those reasons, while the Vikings do need a cornerback that has starting quality talent, Minnesota likely won’t be looking to Porter in order to fill that role.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.