Former Bills DB Signs with Steelers, Finds the Respect He Never Got in Buffalo

While the pads were off for a brief Monday break at camp, the Steelers quietly made a move that could reshape their defensive back depth. Pittsburgh signed rookie cornerback who went undrafted out of Miami this spring and was recently waived by the Buffalo Bills.

For him, the transition has already felt night and day:

“In Buffalo, I felt like just another body,” he said. “Here in Pittsburgh, I felt valued the moment I stepped in the building. It’s different. You feel it in the locker room, in the way coaches look you in the eye. This feels like football - like family.”

He was signed by the Bills just days after the 2025 NFL Draft but didn’t make it past July. He never truly got his footing in Orchard Park and admitted that the atmosphere was cold — and not just the weather.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, gave him a locker, a chance, and reps on his very first day. He joins a cornerback group that’s been under intense evaluation all camp long, especially with reps being rotated heavily behind starters like Joey Porter Jr. and veteran Adoree’ Jackson. With C.J. Henderson still being evaluated, the signing of Porter Jr. signals the Steelers are still keeping an open mind when it comes to roster flexibility.

Daryl Porter Jr. (no relation to Joey) started his college career at West Virginia before transferring to Miami. Across his senior year in 2024, he played in 12 games and tallied 28 tackles. His instincts and downhill quickness impressed Buffalo briefly, but ultimately didn’t earn him a roster spot.

Ironically, his father, Daryl Sr., was also drafted by the Steelers back in 1997 — though he never suited up in a game for them. He went on to play for the Lions, Bills, and Titans. Now, nearly three decades later, the Porter name is back in the Steelers building — and this time, it’s personal.

“My dad never got to wear this jersey,” Porter Jr. added. “I’m gonna do everything I can to make it stick this time.”

For now, Porter Jr. is a name to watch on special teams and sub-package looks. But in a secondary filled with battles and hungry depth, don’t be surprised if this former forgotten rookie finds new life in Black & Gold.