Joey Porter Jr. wrapped a breakout 2025 season, and now Pro Football Focus is dropping a bombshell: they think he is about to make the leap to All-Pro in 2026. Bradley Locker even put him on a list of ten players poised to grab their first All-Pro nod this year. If Locker is right, the rest of the league needs to pay serious attention to what this 25-year-old defensive back is cooking for the upcoming season.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Porter’s Ascent in 2025
We all saw Porter Jr. take a massive step forward last season, right? He racked up a career-high 14 passes defended. That is a huge stat for any corner, showing he was constantly making plays on the ball. But what is even crazier, what truly shows his growth, is how he cleaned up his game. He slashed his penalty numbers from a league-leading 17 in 2024 all the way down to just nine in 2025! Think about that improvement. That kind of discipline, combined with elite playmaking, is the mark of a guy who is locked in and getting better every single snap. Locker pointed out that Porter Jr. “already looked dominant” on a defense that was only near league average in passing success rate and ranked a disappointing 21st in PFF coverage grade. Think about that for a second: he was absolutely balling out, putting up incredible individual numbers, even when the overall defensive metrics for the team were not stellar. That shows you the kind of individual talent we are talking about here, a true playmaker. He brings a unique “combination of length, physicality and bravado” to the field that just screams shutdown corner. You just know when he is out there, he is going to challenge every receiver.
The 2026 Boost and the $30 Million Question
So, what makes PFF so confident he is taking another huge leap this year? Locker believes those defensive metrics will “augment in 2026.” And you know why? They brought in impressive corner Jamel Dean, which is a huge addition, and they hired Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator. New blood, new schemes, and more talent around Porter Jr. could easily elevate his game even further, taking some pressure off and allowing him to freelance more. PFF’s deep dive into his 2025 performance backs this up big time, with the cold, hard data. The guy ranked in the 90th percentile in coverage grade, an incredible 91st percentile in single coverage, and an insane 96th percentile in forced incompletion rate last season. These are not just good numbers, these are elite numbers that scream future All-Pro. Now, here is where things get really interesting, folks: Porter Jr., who was the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is eligible for a massive contract extension. We are talking upwards of $30 million per season! It is unclear if a deal gets done before the season starts, but if PFF’s prediction holds true and he does become an All-Pro this year, that price tag is going to jump even higher. The smart play for the organization is to lock him down now, before he truly breaks the bank.
This season could be career-defining for Joey Porter Jr. If he hits that All-Pro level, he will not only solidify his place as one of the league’s top corners but also secure a monstrous payday. Every snap he takes this season will be under the microscope, and we cannot wait to see him prove PFF absolutely right when the regular season kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Direct RSS.
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