Former Miami Hurricanes cornerback Daryl Porter Jr. is back on the waiver wire after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him as they trimmed the roster ahead of Sunday’s 53-man deadline.
The Fort Lauderdale native was among 11 players cut in Pittsburgh’s first wave of moves.
Porter had re-signed with the Steelers on June 11 after a brief second stint with the Buffalo Bills, the team that originally signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 draft.
For Canes fans, the news is familiar and frustrating. Porter transferred home to Coral Gables in 2022 after two seasons at West Virginia.
He developed into a starter in Miami’s secondary, appearing in 30 games over three years and finishing his UM career with 62 tackles and 12 pass breakups. In 2024 he started all 12 regular-season games and led the Hurricanes with seven pass breakups while adding 28 tackles.
That production didn’t translate into draft capital. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Porter ran in the mid-4.5s and went undrafted.
He has spent the last 15 months bouncing between Buffalo and Pittsburgh practice squads, earning one regular-season appearance: four snaps (one defensive, three special teams) when the Steelers elevated him for a December 2025 win at Detroit.
The Steelers liked him enough to bring him back this spring. His father, Daryl Porter Sr., was a sixth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 1997 and later played for the Bills and Titans.
The younger Porter is a press-man corner with length and a competitive demeanor that coaches have praised in camp. Depth at corner in Pittsburgh, including veterans and returning pieces, simply won out this week.
This is the grind for a lot of former Hurricanes. Porter is another South Florida kid who came home to The U, started games in the ACC, and is now fighting for the last spots on NFL rosters.
He has already shown he can stick on a practice squad and contribute when called. Teams will have a chance to claim him off waivers or sign him to a practice squad once the 53-man cutdowns are complete.
For Miami supporters, the hope is simple: another Cane finds a home and keeps working. Porter has the local pedigree, the college tape, and enough NFL snaps to stay in the league. The next call could come quickly.
