Unpacking Future Packers: No. 39, Iowa State CB Darien Porter Jr.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.

The cornerback room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue is going through a remodel. The Green Bay Packers have lost Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell in free agency and Jaire Alexander's days in Green Bay seem to be coming to an end.

Before losing those three cornerbacks, the Packers did sign Nate Hobbs to a four-year deal. The former Las Vegas Raider will bring toughness and more versatility to Green Bay's secondary.

Along with Hobbs, the Packers will have Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine in the cornerback room. Brian Gutekunst will need to add bodies via the draft to round out that depth chart.

A potential target in the 2025 NFL Draft is Darien Porter Jr. The Iowa State cornerback checks in at No. 39 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit, Porter started his career in Ames as a wide receiver, before making the switch to cornerback in 2022. He became a starter this past season and recorded two tackles for loss, three interceptions and two pass deflections.

"Porter meant a lot to Iowa State's defense this past season," Eugene Rapay, the Iowa State beat writer for the Des Moines Register, said. "He was one of several experienced senior starters on a secondary that was undoubtedly the bright spot for the Cyclones' defense. Iowa State tied a program-record 7-0 start, its best since 1938, building that hot start on the backbone of defense. As injuries started to pile up for the Cyclones, Porter emerged as a lockdown cornerback and helped them finish with a program-best 11 wins (first double-digit win season in Iowa State's 133-year history). Iowa State ended the year giving up an FBS-best 165.6 passing yards per game. He also recorded three interceptions for an Iowa State defense that finished in the top 25 nationally for turnover margin at +9."

Porter possesses great size (6-3 with 33-inch arms) and speed. The former prep track and field standout clocked a 4.30 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He was the Iowa Class 4A State Champion in the 400-meter dash in 2017 and 2019. His time of 46.99 set the state record in the event.

I'd have no issue if the Packers rolled the dice on Darien Porter Jr on Day 2.

Former track athlete. WR turned CB with 970 snaps on special teams with four blocked punts and 16 tackles. Good size at 6-3 with long arms. pic.twitter.com/QZLcuhaNFK
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) March 22, 2025

That speed is evident on the football field, as he's able to stay attached to the wide receiver's hip on vertical routes. He has long, easy strides. With his length and speed, Porter rarely gave up any passes downfield. His technique still needs polishing, but he makes up for any shortcomings in coverage with his athleticism. For a longer cornerback, he does show some good hip fluidity.

A converted wide receiver, Porter does a good job of getting his head turned to locate the football. He does wide receiver-like things at the catch point and does not panic when the ball is in the air. He uses his length to disrupt the action at the catch point. For a player who has played limited snaps at the position, he shows natural instincts and good route recognition.

Athleticism scores for DBs are now official. Four earned elite 90+ scores:

🔹 CB Darien Porter (@CycloneFB): 93
🔹 CB Caleb Ransaw (@GreenWaveFB): 92
🔹 DS Nick Emmanwori (@GamecockFB): 91
🔹 CB Jacob Parrish (@KStateFB): 90

📊: https://t.co/p64vRez1Gn
🌩️: Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/QsboOA5JzI
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 1, 2025

"Blessed with a 6-foot-6 wingspan, a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, solid field awareness and quick-twitch play, Porter is tough for opposing offenses to throw against," Rapay said. "What he's missing in technique and experience, he easily makes up for with his pure athleticism, size, length and speed. There aren't many cornerbacks with his physical profile and he is disruptive when dropping back and defending the pass. Porter especially shines in zone coverage. He has good instincts and puts himself in a position to make winning plays."

Porter's tape against the run is a mixed back. There are reps where he comes up and makes a tackle behind the line of scrimmage or for a short gain. Then there are reps where he's passive and in retreat mode. This is a player that just started playing the position in 2022 and has only logged 694 snaps on the defensive side of the ball. The flashes are there. It will be up to the team he lands on to help him be more consistent. If a team is drafting Porter, they are doing so for his ability to blanket wide receivers downfield, with the hope that he'll become more consistent with his aggressiveness against the run.

"This is still a work-in-progress," Rapay said. "He didn't play a major role in run defense and his tackling needs to be cleaned up. There were times opposing run plays reached the second level, especially when the Cyclones were hit hard by the injury bug at the linebacker position as the year unfolded, but with only 18 tackles this past season, there's more to be desired with his assertiveness and run contain."

Porter is a Day 1 special teams standout. He'll be able to immediately make an impact on special teams. During his time at Iowa State he logged nearly 1,000 snaps on special teams (970). He blocked four punts, one field goal and recorded 16 tackles.

"His impact on special teams was where he first built a name for himself at Iowa State and actually what sparked the Cyclone coaching staff to re-evaluate his position and experiment to see if he was better suited for defense than offense," Rapay said. "Since the Big 12 was formed in 1996, he is the only player in Iowa State history to record five career blocked kicks and a good chunk of his career tackles came on special teams. He just has a knack for getting to the ball and is someone punt teams and field goal units should be sure to keep an eye on."

Let's talk about the negatives that folks will shout from the mountain top. Porter spent six years at Iowa State and didn't become a starter until 2024. Why did it take him that long to get on the field consistently? That's not unheard of when a player makes a position switch halfway through his collegiate career. Not everybody takes to a new position like a duck takes to water. He's also going to be 25 in January. Some teams may not be willing to take a player viewed as a project at that age on Day 2 of the draft.

Fit with the Packers

The Packers could stand to add some size to their cornerback room. With his size and speed, Porter has the tools in the shed to develop into a lockdown boundary cornerback. With his ball skills, he has the playmaking ability to make quarterbacks pay for throwing in his direction.

Porter is raw. The flashes are there. Now it's up to a team to bundle up all those traits and develop him into a more consistent force.

"It is important to note that Porter is still fairly raw at cornerback," Rapay said. "He only started for one year. While he's still learning certain nuances and techniques for the position, the ceiling appears to be super high if he can be developed properly and work with the right coaching staff. There simply aren't many 6-foot-4 cornerbacks running around, especially with his athleticism and top-end speed. He seems to have to the right open-minded approach that makes him an eager learner and positive presence for a team. If his future NFL home can unlock his potential, he'll pay off big for their defense."

The Packers have a solid foundation in place with Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine. Throw in Javon Bullard and the Packers would have the luxury to be patient with Porter. While he bides his time he would provide an immediate impact on special teams.

Draft a player for what they can become. Porter could develop into a playmaking cornerback with the length and speed to smother wide receivers in coverage. Given his size, athleticism and ball skills, the Packers may be willing to roll the dice on Porter's upside on Day 2 of the draft.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Iowa State CB Darien Porter Jr.

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