Finalists for the AP defensive rookie of the year include the Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. and T.J. Watt.
The NFL announced finalists for its eight most notable football-related awards Thursday. The Pittsburgh Steelers had two, both for defense. One was widely expected; the other, a pleasant surprise.
T.J. Watt was a finalist for AP defensive player of the year for a fourth time. The NFL’s sacks leader in 2023, Watt was long assumed one of the top vote-getters for that honor.
But it was no slam dunk that Joey Porter Jr. would be among five finalists for AP defensive rookie of the year. Porter Jr., the No. 32 overall draft pick, joins three other finalists who were among the top four defensive players drafted last year: Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
The fifth finalist for the defensive rookie award was Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner, who was a third-round pick.
A product of North Allegheny High School and Penn State, Porter Jr. evolved into the Steelers’ “shutdown” No. 1 cornerback by the end of the season. The son of the former Steelers star outside linebacker of the same name, Porter Jr. began the season as a subpackage defender but by Week 8 was routinely being asked to “shadow” that week’s best wide receiver on a weekly basis.
The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Porter finished his rookie season with 43 tackles (32 solo), 10 passes defended and a crucial interception late in an October victory against the eventual AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens. According to Pro Football Focus, among the 78 cornerbacks who played at least 600 defensive snaps this season Porter Jr. led the NFL in opponent completion percentage when targeted (46.4%). Only six of those 78 had a lower opponent passer rating when targeted than Porter (67.0).
Watt was joined as a finalist for the defensive player of the year award by Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland, Cowboys and former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby and presumptive favorite, edge rusher Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.
Awards announced earlier this week by the Professional Football Writers Association honored Garrett as DPOY and Anderson as DROY.
Central Catholic and Pitt alum Damar Hamlin is among finalists for AP comeback player of the year. Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety, suffered cardiac arrest during a game late last season but returned to full football activities by summer.
The AP’s NFL awards will be presented during a televised ceremony Feb. 8 in the lead-up to the Super Bowl.
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