In Porter, Trice, Steelers have two tall-tree, toughened rookie corners

The two cornerbacks selected by the Steelers in the 2023 NFL Draft have quite a bit in common.

Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. are the same type of corner, both known for their size, length and physicality in press coverage. And now, after the draft process, there's one more item to add: They both fell further than anyone thought they might.

The draft always comes with surprises, and this edition was no different. The cornerback position was stacked, perhaps the deepest position in the class. Even so, Porter was thought to be a surefire first-rounder. There was even some speculation that he could be taken in the first 10 picks. Trice wasn't projected anywhere near that high, but he was ranked in the top 100 of Pro Football Focus' big board. The third or fourth round was the most appropriate projection for Trice.

As we know now, Porter fell to the Steelers at 32nd overall, the first pick of the second round, and Trice plummeted all the way down to their seventh-round pick at 241st overall.

Porter and Trice will always be tied in some form just because they were both in the same Steelers' draft class and play the same position. But, both players have an opportunity to make it a truly memorable class. While Porter has been very vocal about how falling out of the first round has motivated him and, to be blunt, pissed him off, Trice now had an opportunity to voice his displeasure over falling so far in the draft. And, like Porter, he's leaning completely into it, wanting to prove a lot of people wrong.

"For sure," Trice said at the team's rookie minicamp. "All my life I've had to prove myself. It's just one of those things where I've got to prove myself once again. I don't mind doing it."

Rookie minicamp gave Porter and Trice their first real opportunity to get to know each other, though they both heard and saw plenty of the other while they spent their college days on opposite sidelines in the Big Ten. Of course, nobody could forget Porter's record-setting day against Trice's Purdue team last season when Porter recorded six pass breakups in a single game, a Penn State record. But, at the same time, some of Trice's best tape came against the Nittany Lions:

However, despite the familiarity within the conference, neither of them really knew the other.

"It's been great," Porter said of his growing relationship with Trice. "I just met him the other day. We're still trying to figure each other out and learn each other. We've just talked about our experiences at college and stuff and what it was like playing against each other. It's been good so far."

During rookie minicamp, it was hard to find a time when Porter and Trice weren't attached at the hip. Now, a big reason for that is they play the same position and went through all of the same drills together along with all of the other cornerbacks in camp. Conversation comes with the territory.

But there was a mutual, concerted effort between the two of them to help each other and talk to each other. When they weren't taking the next rep in a drill, more often than not, they were right there next to each other chatting it up. And, if that's happening on the practice field, it's a solid bet that it's happening behind closed doors too.

"He's definitely a great guy," Trice said. "We're just continuing to learn from each other, make each other better and keep perfecting our craft."

Their craft is built in similar ways. But, they need to figure out how their craft can be molded into the Steelers' way of coaching cornerbacks. At the Combine, a team source told me that the most desired trait they valued in a cornerback was game speed and the ability to run with receivers. After that, it came down to a tie between ball skills and tackling.

Going into the draft, neither Porter or Trice matched up against some of the other cornerbacks in the class when being judged by that criteria. But, it doesn't mean they can't do those things. The lack of interception numbers for Porter is a red flag, but there are also other ways to judge ball skills. And, while having elite speed sure helps, there are other ways to run and stay with receivers.

In Porter and Trice, the Steelers got two guys that will thrive in playing in the receiver's face.

"We like to press, get hands on," Trice said. "We like to run with guys and tackle."

The sirens went off in my head when Trice said, "run with guys." When taking stock in the type of cornerbacks Porter and Trice are, running with guys is not the first, second or maybe even the third thing that comes to mind. Not to beat a dead horse here, but it's all about size, length and physicality in press coverage.

However, Trice saying that tells me the coaching has already started and, more important, the players are heeding what's being taught. The Steelers want guys who can stick with receivers. Then, coaching will help with the rest.

The future is still unwritten for both Porter and Trice. And, they'll look to prove a lot of people wrong for both of them falling far from where they believe they should have been taken in the draft. And remember, that even includes the Steelers. They didn't take Porter in the first round, and the Steelers passed on Trice five times before taking him 241st overall.

Through that motivation, together, they have the opportunity to become everything the Steelers need from the cornerback position. And the work is just getting started.

"He's definitely a great guy," Trice said of Porter. "We'll keep chopping it up off the field and keep trying to make each other better."