Gerry Dulac
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
This is what the Steelers envisioned when they selected tackle Broderick Jones and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. among the top 32 picks in the draft.
This is what they envisioned when they selected defensive tackle Keeanu Benton in the second round with the 49th overall pick.
It took them awhile, but the Steelers finally have their top three rookies playing significant roles and helping them to their 5-3 record. And that doesn’t even include their third-round pick, tight end Darnell Washington, who is playing more snaps because of the injury to Pat Freiermuth.
But Jones, the 14th overall pick in the draft, and Porter, the top pick on the second round, are playing because of performance. And nobody performed better in Thursday night’s victory against the Tennessee Titans than Porter, who, in a matter of weeks, has gone from playing a handful of snaps to a player given a major responsibility that only a few cornerbacks get to have.
In many instances, Porter was assigned to follow Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, no matter the side of the field. It is a defensive tactic the Steelers haven’t used since Joe Haden was their cornerback.
That was one of the reasons they resisted all the trade offers on Day 2 of the NFL draft to select Porter, the son of one of their all-time sack leaders. Nonetheless, it was a surprising move for a player who was making only his second NFL start.
“I asked coach (Mike Tomlin) on Tuesday and he was a little hesitant because I was a rookie, but throughout the week, he let me do it,” Porter said. “I’m happy he trusted me and I feel like I did good with it.”
Then he added: “He just had to warm up to it. I’m glad he did.”
Typically, the Steelers have assigned a cornerback to follow the other team’s top receiver only when that receiver is their primary big-play threat. For example, they might ask Porter to do it against the Cleveland Browns and their top receiver, Amari Cooper. But they likely would not do it against the Cincinnati Bengals because they have two receivers who are big-play targets, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
It has been a rapid ascent for Porter, who played just 10 snaps last month in Houston. But it also could be considered late in coming, given Porter’s pedigree and the team’s need for a top cornerback in the draft.
“I think each week we’ve put him in he’s played a larger role,” said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “He’s played better. He’s doing the things that we want him to do and we feel comfortable now that he’s able to handle everything.”
Porter is here to stay as a starter, and it is trending in the same direction for Jones, too, though that will be determined this week.
Jones started at right tackle against the Titans — a position at which he received very little work, going all the way back to training camp — because the Steelers were unhappy with Chuks Okorafor’s performance in the previous game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coach Mike Tomlin said the switch was made because the team needed a spark, and “I thought Broderick had worked hard and was deserving of the opportunity.”
Jones played well against the Titans, especially in the run game, where his quickness off the ball for a big guy was very evident. The Steelers would have no reason to slow that process by returning him to the bench.
It would also put Okorafor’s future with the team in jeopardy.
Okorafor, 26, has one year remaining on the $29.25 million contract he signed before the start of the 2022 season. But he is due another $4 million roster bonus in 2024, when he will count slightly more than $11.8 million against the salary cap. If the Steelers release him before June 1, they would save $8.75 million against the cap.
Left tackle Dan Moore has another year remaining on his rookie contract, as well, but he will count a more cap-friendly $1,229,475 in 2024.
Meantime, Benton played a season-high 49 snaps against the Titans, in part because nose tackle Montravius Adams sustained an ankle injury in the first quarter after playing just two snaps. He was credited with two tackles.
Benton has been a regular part of the defensive line rotation, but he has played so well that some in the organization believe he should be starting between Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi in their 3-4 front.
That’s what the Steelers envisioned when they drafted him, just as they did with Jones and Porter.
Finally, it has begun to happen.
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