Steelers' Potential Draft Pick Kalen King Hopeful Of Reuniting With Joey Porter Jr. As He Finds It "Very Appealing"

One of the Pittsburgh Steelers breakout stars of 2023 was Joey Porter Jr. Although 43 tackles and one interception doesn't seem like much, Porter was lockdown all season against some of the best wide receivers in the league. In an already lacking cornerback room, he was able to step up to the plate when needed. A testament to his strong play, Porter would end up being named a finalist for the 2023 AP Rookie of the Year Award. He will enter next season with high expectations and could potentially breakout into a star.

The Steelers Cornerbacks Struggled In 2023

Although Porter looked exceptional, the rest of the Steelers' cornerbacks looked dreadful. Age has proven to catch up to the once-elite Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace had a down year compared to his 2022 season. With this, the Steelers will most likely look to the NFL Draft like they did with Porter and hope to find another star.

One name that has been thrown around as a fit for the Steelers during the draft is cornerback Kalen King from Penn State. King had an impressive 2022 where he made his name known playing on the opposite side of Porter. The two became a nasty duo in college and many believe they would create a nasty duo in the NFL. Recently, during a Senior Bowl practice, King would make the notion that the opportunity to team back up with Porter is very appealing.

"We played in college together. I competed with that guy every day. That was one of the guys who, when I stepped into college, I was a sponge to. Anything I had a question on, I was going straight to him. So, that [teaming up again] would definitely be very appealing to me." 

2022 was King's best season at Penn State as he recorded 30 total tackles, 15 pass deflections, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. King along with Porter would help take the Nittany Lions to a Rose Bowl victory and finish seventh in the AP rankings. King seemed to play the crucial role of being the sidekick to Porter and came up in huge moments. If the two were to get the opportunity to reunite on the Steelers, it would be a true Batman and Robin duo, much like TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith.

King's draft projection seems to be all over the place as some people believe he can fall late in the first round to early in day three. However, he seems to be struggling during the Senior Bowl practices on multiple occasions, which could hurt his stock. This along with the fact that his 2023 season didn't look as great as the season prior, has made it hard for scouts to project where he may end up falling.

Having King fall to the third round could be exactly what the Steelers need to happen in the draft. It would allow them to draft other positions of need like center, offensive tackle, and possibly quarterback. This would also take the expectations off of him that were thrown onto Porter. He can learn to develop from Porter and Peterson and when he is ready, fill the hole on the other side.

Whether King is the answer or not, the Steelers need to address the cornerback position this offseason. Who would you want to fill that role, Steeler Nation? Do you think King would be a good fit in Pittsburgh? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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