This offseason, the New Orleans Saints will be focused on getting better, and also younger. One area of focus will be the secondary. With Marshon Lattimore now in Washington, and Paulson Adebo entering free agency, New Orleans could use one of its draft picks to find another corner.
A corner that should be on the team’s board of prospects is Darien Porter out of Iowa State.
Saints could have their eyes on Darien Porter
Accolades: All-time Iowa high school state record holder in 400 meter dash
2024 stats: 201 coverage snaps, 5 receptions allowed, 70 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Size: 6’2, 197 LBs
Projection: Day 2
Darien Porter is a long, rangy corner who uses his elite speed to impact the game. He is a fluid mover whose closing ability allows him to make a play on the ball. His floor is a core special teamer, however, with his athleticism, he could develop into a top cornerback in the NFL.
There aren’t many people faster than Porter. No one is going to beat him running vertically down the field. The former Cyclone swiftly closes in on receivers if they gain any separation. His speed is evident in his high school track times.
High school track times:
100-meter dash: 10.68 (Runner up senior year)
200-meter dash: 21.69 (State champion)
400-meter dash: 46.99 (All time Iowa high school state record)
Porter’s speed alone makes him an intriguing prospect. It’s not just straight-line speed; the redshirt senior can change directions swiftly to stay with a receiver.
His exact height and weight measurements came out from the Senior Bowl, and compared to the other cornerbacks, he is massive. He is the tallest cornerback and has the second-largest wingspan. His length allows him to cover more area than the average player, leading to more pass breakups.
Porter also has impressive ball skills, which stem from his background as a former receiver. He just transitioned to cornerback in 2022, previously being on offense. He doesn’t panic when the ball’s in the air; instead, he is patient, turning his head and getting a hand up. This has led to multiple pass breakups and even some interceptions. Porter excels at identifying screens. He turns into a heat-seeking missile. Not ceasing until he’s made contact with the ball carrier.
The area that Porter needs to improve at is the run game. He is a willing contributor, however he doesn’t separate from blocks well and struggles to finish tackles. There are times when he weaves through traffic just to miss the tackle.
Porter is an older prospect at 24. Although he’s been in college for a while, he doesn’t have a ton of experience. In his three years of playing cornerback, Porter has only played 365 coverage snaps. This leads to him being a relatively unknown prospect. The pre-draft events will be paramount for coaches to figure out where to draft him.
Darien Porter still needs to develop, but his athletic traits and frame make him an intriguing prospect. His draft stock is unpredictable but his traits currently warrant a Day 2 selection.