4 prospects the Seahawks must monitor at 2023 NFL Combine

Seahawks should monitor cornerback Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State

Porter is an interesting prospect. He is a bit all over the mock draft maps as he could go midways through the first round or could fall into the second round. He definitely has the physical traits to play in the NFL and be a good corner, but he also needs to find the right system to be successful. He is 6’2″ and about 200 pounds, but he isn’t the quickest corner either.

Porter would be best in a press-man system. That is what the Seahawks used to run in the early 2010s when they had Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner. Of course, Seattle had safeties that were talented enough to erase any mistakes Sherman and Browner might have made. Quandre Diggs is a good safety for Seattle and he would come close to being as good as Earl Thomas was, but Seattle has no one nearly as good as Kam Chancellor.

If Seattle were to choose Porter, it might be a sign that they are wanting to get back to a 2013-style scheme. That is to trust the cornerbacks to shut down receivers and allow the front three or four to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Porter has the strength to play with any receiver in the NFL, but he also doesn’t have the quickness out of breaks to stay with a talented receiver who knows how to use Porter’s weaknesses against him.

All that said, if Porter runs a cone drill at the combine at blazing speed, he is probably going to definitely end up in the top half of the first round. If the Seahawks really want Porter, that means taking him as high as number 5 overall because he probably won’t be around at number 20. If Porter has a good combine, of course.