Getty Image / Scott Taetsch
For much of his NFL career, Patrick Peterson was one of the NFL’s most feared cornerbacks.
He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first 8 seasons in the league and earned 3 All-Pro nods during that time as well.
After all of those years as one of the league’s best, his role has changed a bit recently.
Entering his 13th year in the NFL, Peterson is still a solid corner in the NFL even if he isn’t still the shutdown guy he used to be. This season, it looks like he also adding veteran mentor to his job description.
In particular, he is going to be mentoring Joey Porter Jr, who the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted in the second round of this year’s draft.
Peterson told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat’s Amanda Godsey that he believes Porter Jr has the intangibles to be even better than him.
I noticed Patrick Peterson talking to Joey Porter Jr. as they walked off the field between drills yesterday. I asked Peterson if he was giving JPJ some pointers and this was his full response: pic.twitter.com/0DhCx4A3qg
— Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey) June 7, 2023
“I just want to continue helping in as many ways as I can because he has all the intangibles to be better than me,” Peterson said. “I know most greats, or most guys, won’t say that, but that’s just the type of guy I am. I want to pass on the game and leave it in good hands.”
It’s something that is surprising to hear from somebody who was as good as Peterson at his peak, but Porter Jr’s intangibles were something that seemingly had multiple teams interested in him during this year’s draft.
His father was an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They will be hoping they get the same toughness out of Porter Jr.
If he comes anywhere close to the career that Patrick Peterson has had, Joey Porter Jr will be an absolute steal of a 2nd round pick.