Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups.
We start off Monday with a look at the secondary.
Many who root for and cover the Pittsburgh Steelers think that this year’s NFL Draft analysis is pretty simple: If Joey Porter Jr. is still on the board at pick No. 17, the Steelers will take him.
Why not? The Steelers desperately need a cornerback. Porter was All-Big Ten at the position in 2022 at Penn State. He’s 6-foot-2, 215 pounds and ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash. He’s from Pittsburgh. His dad is a former Steelers All-Pro who was once on Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff.
Teryl Austin part of the group running the DB drills at Penn State’s pro day
Austin is in the white ball cap, Joey Porter Jr going through the drill. pic.twitter.com/S3bq7vB6GX
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) March 24, 2023
There’s no way the Steelers pass on him if he is available. Right?
“Close. I don’t think that’s exactly the case,” Williamson told us in our first “Draft 101” podcast of the year. “I think the corner class, in general, is exceptional and deep. I have no problem taking Porter at 17. But he has his flaws. And it is a deep position. I think at 32 (which the Steelers also own), into the second day, you’ll get good corner talent.”
Because of that, Williamson didn’t rule out the notion of the Steelers trading down, even if Porter is available.
“Porter has some work to do. He has one career interception. He looks the part. He is very physical, like his father. Extremely long arms,” Williamson said. “He’s a press man cover corner, though. The Steelers do play a lot of man. But he is not great with his back pedal. He’s not great at taking the ball away. He’s not great in zone. But there is a lot to work with.”
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Those are Williamson’s thoughts on Porter. But what are the Steelers’ thoughts? Are they actually going to be able to avoid the temptation of drafting Porter’s son?
“Probably not,” Williamson admitted. “I (will) build my board with their top 17 this year. And Porter will absolutely be in it. I just don’t think that he is a ‘run to the podium, have to have him, do jumping jacks if he gets to 17’ type of guy.”
All that said, Williamson still has Porter listed as his third cornerback on the board. He has only Christian Gonzalez of Oregon and Devon Witherspoon of Illinois rated ahead of Porter.
But Williamson is also highly intrigued by Maryland’s Deonte Banks. He’ll also likely put Banks in the Steelers’ top 17 potential picks and has him rated No. 4 on the cornerback board. Williamson also has Emmanuel Forbes out of Mississippi State as a name to keep in mind at the position, with one significant caveat.
“Between Witherspoon and Forbes, those two have the best tape of anyone in this cornerback class,” Williamson said. “He’s 167 (pounds). That’s my problem with Forbes. He is dangerously thin. … His tape is tremendous. But his lower body is so lean. His waist, his calves, his ankles. I don’t know if you can put five more pounds on the guy.”
Emmanuel Forbes BROKE this man’s ankles ????
Forbes holds the record for most career pick-sixes in college football with 6.
The Mississippi State CB is the definition of a ball HAWK. pic.twitter.com/OWney4GWyP
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) February 25, 2023
Also, in this podcast, Williamson gives his thoughts on swapping out Cameron Sutton for Patrick Peterson, why he doesn’t love the class of safeties, and why there is one specific player from Alabama in the secondary that the Steelers should consider.
