Welcome to the team - CB Darien Porter

Great pick. Needs developing. Only played corner 7 games. Was a WR.
 
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STRENGTHS:
● Play speed and timed speed both elite (parents were accomplished college athletes)
● Posted outstanding mph numbers at both Senior Bowl (22.17) and combine (23.89)
● Boasts rare size and length for position
● Much better fluidity and change-of-direction skills than most tall corners
● Plays decisive in zone to overlap and confidently defend variety of routes (wasn't flagged in 2024)
● Casts wide net with long and well-timed arms (defends fade particularly well)
● Former wide receiver; doesn't become frozen on interception opportunities
● Plays with terrific chase efort to track down ball carriers
● Described by head coach Matt Campbell as "most selfless, most incredible human" on Iowa State roster
● Blocked four punts (one each of past four seasons) and one field goal over his career
● Played 970 career special teams snaps (18 tackles)


WEAKNESSES:
● Extremely lean experience — didn't log first start until sixth college season
● Saw only 17 targets in 12 games in 2024 — body of work is lacking
● Underdeveloped coverage awareness and still learning how to pick up route clues
● Has length for press man but wasn't asked to do it much
● Average upper-body strength; needs to crank up physicality
● Tall center of gravity disrupts ability to come to balance as tackler
● Needs to become better finisher once he gets hands on ball carrier
● Missed one game as super senior because of ankle issue (Oct. 2024); missed most of junior year of high school with wrist injury, which required two surgeries
● Older player — already 24

SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Iowa State, Porter was an outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Jon Heacock's zone-heavy scheme. Though he set a school record with 64 games played, most of his playing time came on special teams (970 career snaps), not ofense (53) or defense (694). After spending his first three seasons in Ames at receiver, he moved to corner in 2022 and became a starter in 2024, although he was part of a rotation (only 35.4 defensive snaps per game in 2024).

A towering athlete with a track background, Porter has exceptional athletic traits for his size and uses his length well to restrict air space in coverage (eight passes defended, zero touchdowns allowed over the past two seasons). He can be late to read route development, which is congruent with his experience, but his special teams background greatly increases his value (only player in Big 12 history with five or more career blocked kicks). Overall, Porter is a unique prospect that requires heavy projection because of his meager experience, but he has the rare combination of physical traits and promising ball skills to develop into an NFL starting corner. With rare size/speed and a wide receiver background, Riq Woolen is the natural NFL comparison — if Porter develops more of a competitive edge.

GRADE: 3rd round
 

Overview​

Sixth-year senior with elite traits and special teams talent but only one year of starting experience at cornerback. Porter’s rep total is heavy on zone coverages but he has the athleticism, burst and speed to handle more man coverage. He has excellent zone awareness with the twitch and ball skills to expand his sphere of influence. He uses his length to shade downfield throws but needs to get stronger to improve his press, his contest and his tackling in run support. More schooling is needed as a pattern-matcher but his athletic profile and instant impact on special teams should create more confidence in projecting Porter’s continued ascension as a CB2/CB3.

Strengths​

  • Elite combination of size, length and speed.
  • Possesses arm length that offensive tackles would covet.
  • Smooth athlete with easy change of direction and acceleration.
  • Long speed with well-timed transitions to phase deep routes.
  • Mature field awareness and zone discipline despite a lack of experience.
  • Possesses the burst and ball skills to crank up ball production.
  • Standout talent at gunner with four career blocked punts.

Weaknesses​

  • Made first start at cornerback in his sixth season in 2024.
  • Limited man-cover reps on tape to evaluate.
  • Takes time gathering and adjusting to more complex routes.
  • Below-average play strength to discard run blocks.
  • Quite a bit to clean up with tackling and contain in run support.
  • Inconsistent coming to balance as a tackler as a punt gunner.
 
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