Steelers Now
Two Pittsburgh Steelers cornerbacks finished the 2025 season at the very top of the league, according to Pro Football & Sports Network’s Cornerback Impact Metric. Joey Porter Jr. earned a league-best 95.3 grade, while James Pierre followed closely behind with a 90.3, making them the two highest-graded cornerbacks in football by the metric.
The Impact Metric evaluates more than just interceptions. It factors in coverage snaps, pass breakups, interceptions, and tackling efficiency, offering a broader look at how consistently a corner affects the game snap-to-snap. While both Porter and Pierre missed time during the season, their on-field impact when available was undeniable.
For Porter, the timing could not be better. Now in his third season and playing for a new contract, he took a noticeable step forward. Earlier in his career, Porter’s aggressive style occasionally led to technique issues and costly penalties. In 2025, those problems largely disappeared. He cleaned up his footwork, trusted his leverage, and emerged as one of the best pure man-coverage corners in the NFL. Given that growth, it will be difficult for the Steelers to avoid making a strong push to re-sign him.
Pierre’s rise was even more unexpected. Entering the season, he was far from a roster lock after spending years as a depth piece. Injuries forced him into a larger role, and he responded with some of the best football of his career. He was particularly impressive against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording a key pass breakup while covering Ja’Marr Chase. Pierre also delivered one of the season’s defining moments with a crucial interception in Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, a play that played a major role in a Steelers victory.
The emergence of Pierre also had ripple effects across the depth chart. Pittsburgh signed Darius Slay in the offseason to a $10 million deal, but his struggles, combined with Pierre’s strong play, factored into the decision to move on from the veteran.
Cornerback evaluation has always been subjective. Some prioritize turnovers, while others focus on a defender’s ability to neutralize an opposing offense’s top weapon. That’s why metrics like this are valuable, they offer a different lens for evaluating performance. In 2025, that lens painted a clear picture: Pittsburgh’s cornerback room, led by Porter and Pierre, quietly became one of the strongest and most impactful units in football.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Cornerback Duo Among NFL’s Best
