Steelers hold visits with Dupree, Penn State's Porter

The Steelers welcomed two familiar names and faces for visits Thursday as Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. met with team officials, as well as free agent linebacker Bud Dupree.

Just six days ago, Porter took part in pro day activities at Penn State, but Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan were not present for that. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was among the Steelers' contingent on hand for the pro day and took part in putting Porter through the paces during individual drills.

It's presumed Porter would meet with both Tomlin and Khan during his visit Thursday.

Porter is widely considered to be a player of interest for the Steelers with the No. 17 pick in the NFL draft. Many mock drafts have him going to Pittsburgh, which is need of a cornerback.

However, the big key will be whether Porter is still available at 17.

"I hope not," he said last week, indicating he'd like to be drafted earlier.

Might the Steelers trade up in order to draft Porter? While that's always a possibility, the team is no doubt looking at other cornerbacks who potentially could be drafted.

Porter's father, Joey Sr., is a former Steelers linebacker and was an assistant coach for the team when the younger player was growing up, and Joey Jr. would come to some Steelers practices. He also has a personal relationship with Tomlin and his family, having played high school football with the coach's son, Dino, at North Catholic before he transferred to North Allegheny High School.

But even though Porter knows Tomlin and the Steelers well, that doesn't guarantee he'll be drafted by the team.

"At the end of the day, it's business," Porter said last week, "and if they want me, they will get me if they have the opportunity. Then we'll see what happens."

DUPREE BACK FOR VISIT

Dupree spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Steelers, before moving on to the Titans the past two seasons.

Could the Steelers bring him back for another go-around?

Dupree was in Pittsburgh on Thursday, posting the news on Instagram before published reports confirmed his visit with the Steelers.

Dupree was the 22nd pick of the first round in 2015 and enjoyed his best season in 2019, recording 68 tackles with 11 1/2 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

He played in just 11 games for the Steelers in 2020, then 11 in each of the past two seasons for the Titans. He had just 35 tackles, seven sacks and eight tackles for loss total over the past two seasons.