Steelers' Rookie CB Daryl Porter Jr. Impresses Teryl Austin with Strong Preseason Push

The Pittsburgh Steelers' cornerback room is expected to be a key strength in the 2025 season. Of course, Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, and Darius Slay make up the big three at the position. Those players are expected to be one of the best cornerback groups in the NFL, giving the Steelers a strong foundation in the secondary and plenty of confidence heading into the season.

However, looking further down the roster, there is a player named Daryl Porter Jr. The opportunity for Daryl to make this roster appears very slim, especially given the star power ahead of him. He signed well into training camp, meaning he had to learn the system quickly and prove himself against more established players. On paper, his chances seemed limited, but the situation is far from set in stone.

Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin recently offered some interesting praise for Daryl. During discussions about the cornerback room, Austin hinted that Daryl has shown traits and work ethic that could earn him a spot. While nothing is guaranteed, Austin’s comments suggest that Daryl has at least given himself a legitimate chance to stick around and compete for a role on the 53-man roster. If he continues to impress, he could become an unexpected contributor for the Steelers this season.

"He's got an opportunity to stick around somewhere; I like what he's done so far," Austin told the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

Those comments can be interpreted a couple of ways. For starters, Austin could simply be acknowledging that Daryl has done a nice job and has given himself a chance to stick around in the NFL. A more likely interpretation, however, is that Daryl has impressed so much in his limited opportunities with the Steelers that he could earn a legitimate spot on the practice squad or somewhere on the depth chart.

Daryl began his college career at West Virginia University in Morgantown, but didn’t stay long, finishing his collegiate career with the Miami Hurricanes. He played two seasons for WVU. 

He went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and initially signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he remained for only a few months. The Steelers then added him to their roster on August 5, 2025, giving him another shot to prove himself. So far, he has ran with the chance Pittsburgh awarded him with. The pressure is on but he's giving himself a great chance.

While the chances for this undrafted player to make the 53-man roster initially appeared slim, Austin’s recent praise suggests there may be a path for him after all. Steelers insiders have reported that Daryl has looked outstanding in training camp. He now has momentum, and the next step will be finding a way to translate his strong performances into a spot on the roster.

Steelers' Defense Expected To Be Great In 2025

The Steelers' defense has stars scattered all over it and is expected to be one of the best groups in the league during the 2025 NFL season. The wide receivers around the AFC North and across the NFL are deep, so the Steelers knew they needed to improve their cornerback room and on paper they certainly have. Now, it just has to translate on the football field.

Not only is the cornerback room loaded at the top of the depth chart, but it also has key depth pieces turning heads. This Steelers' cornerback room has the potential to be a true strength for the team. Though, not everyone is sold on the addition of Ramsey.