Former All-Pro CB believes a Steeler could win Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Steelers 2023 draft class continues to impress. Joey Porter Jr. has caught the attention of former Super Bowl champion and All-Pro CB Richard Sherman.

Sherman believes Porter Jr. could be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

"I'm looking at a guy that's playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Joey Porter Jr.," Sherman said. "He's a guy that [Mike] Tomlin said was gonna be the starter and he went out there and performed well against DeAndre Hopkins. Really took that on and took it to heart. I think he's gonna have a great end of the season."

Porter Jr. held the All-Pro wide receiver to just one catch for 17 yards on five targets after shadowing him on 72.2 percent of his routes, per Next Gen Stats.

The Penn State product will need to continue locking down opponents' top playmakers if he wants to earn this year's DROY award as Week 9 was just his second start of the season. However, he'll likely continue to get that opportunity as he has shown he welcomes the challenge.

"I went to Coach T and told him, 'I want 10,'" Porter Jr. told reporters. "That's what I was looking for. I don't really hide from nothing. I said, 'That's the matchup I want, that's the matchup I need.'"

Porter Jr. earned the starting job over veteran CB Levi Wallace for more than just his Week 9 performance, however. 

The rookie cornerback has 17 tackles, one interception, four passes defended and allowed a passer rating of just 48.3 when targeted this season, per Pro Football Focus. This is fifth overall among all defensive players.

Porter Jr. certainly has big shoes to follow from his dad, former Steelers LB Joey Porter. But he has a chance to do something his dad never did and that's winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.