Welcome to the terrible take a mini podcast telling Steelers Nation what's on our mind.

I'm Josh Carney.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. may have been the Joe Green Award winner as the best rookie for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. But the

2023 rookie class for the black and gold is shaping up to be a rather great one,

at least if early returns are any indication.

Porter has been a great fine for the Steelers,

taking on a true number one role for Pittsburgh since being inserted into the starting lineup in week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Since then, Porter has taken on the top match-ups weekly

and more than held his own as a physical man-coverage corner.

Though he felt like the easy choice for the Steelers rookie of the year,

the rest of the rookie class has been quite impressive.

First round pick Brodrick Jones has become a force in the run game at right tackle since taking over in week nine

He's brought a serious edge to the Steelers and has really helped unlock the run game for Pittsburgh offensively

So too has tightite-end Darnell Washington, who is playing much better as of late from a blocking

perspective. He hasn't had the type of impact as a receiving weapon that many, including myself, hoped for.

But he's held his own as an inline blocking tight end and really moves defenders off the spot in the run game.

On the other side of the ball, defensive linemen, Keanu Benton looks like the Steelers' next great trench piece defensively.

He's an explosive pass rushor that has given offensive linemen fits throughout the season.

And he's starting to come into his own as a run defender.

Quite honestly, he has an argument for the best rookie in the class. Then there's outside linebacker Nick Herbig. He

might not see the field a ton defensively behind D.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. But when he's out there,

Herbert makes plays.

...