Joey Porter Jr. among Early Defensive Rookie of Year Favorites

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is among the favorites to the the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, according to odds posted on Saturday by Sports Betting Dime.

Porter is tied for the ninth-best odds to win the award, despite being drafted in the second round. He has the best odds of any second-round pick to become the NFL’s top rookie this season.

Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, who went to the Houston Texans with the third pick, is the favorite at +350, followed by Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Tyree Wilson (+800), Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (+800), Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (+900), Detroit Lions cornerback Christian Gonzalez (+1000), Green Bay Packers edge rusher Lukas Van Ness (+1200), Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (+1400) and Eagles edge rusher Nolan Smith (+1600).

Porter has +2000 odds, tied with New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald IV, Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Myles Murphy, Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Deonte Banks, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch and Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner won the award in 2022. The Steelers have not an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner since Kendrell Bell did it in 2001. Jack Lambert (1974) and Joe Greene (1969) also won the award for the Steelers.

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