The Pittsburgh Steelers had optimism and confidence coming into the 2023 NFL season, but after going 10-7 in the regular season, they got trounced in the wild-card round of the playoffs by the Buffalo Bills.
They will have one pick in each of the seven rounds of this April’s draft, including the No. 20 pick overall, and they’re starting to do their due diligence as far as looking at draft prospects. Based on one recent visit, they may be looking to keep things in the family.
According to Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now, Pittsburgh has met with Shon Stephens, a cornerback from Ferris State University. He is the cousin of Joey Porter Jr., a cornerback who had a solid rookie year for Pittsburgh this season.
Stephens started his college football career at the junior college level, and he unsuccessfully tried to transfer to a FBS school at the Division I level. But partly due to him not playing in 2020 in order to care for his ill mother, it didn’t happen.
NFL News & Rumors: Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
He did play Division II ball for Missouri Southern State University before moving on to West Liberty University, also a Division II school, where he had eight interceptions this season.
Porter Jr. is himself the son of former star linebacker Joey Porter, who played for the Steelers from 1999 to 2006 and was a key contributor to their Super Bowl-winning team in the 2005 season.
While the Steelers ranked sixth in points allowed during the regular season, they do have some holes on the defensive side of the ball. However, a more pressing concern is their offense, particularly the quarterback position. Kenny Pickett failed to measure up in his second season, and after injuring his ankle in Week 13, he was cleared to play in Week 18, but he instead backed up Mason Rudolph.
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