DP #26

Darien Porter

Cornerback · Iowa State

A converted wide receiver whose track-star speed turned him into a third-round cornerback prospect out of Iowa State.

Darien Porter is a cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders who took an unusual road to the position, starting his college career as a receiver before switching sides of the ball. His combination of size and long speed made him one of the more intriguing developmental corners in the 2025 draft class, and he now enters his second pro season looking to build on a rookie year full of growing pains.

★ Third-round pick, No. 68 overall, 2025 NFL Draft

★ Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2024)

★ Iowa State school-record 64 career games played

Path to the league

Porter played six seasons at Iowa State from 2019 to 2024, appearing in a school-record 64 games. He spent his first three years as a wide receiver before moving to cornerback ahead of the 2022 season, then earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2024. The Raiders drafted him in the third round, 68th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

At Iowa State, Porter finished his career with 51 tackles, three interceptions and six passes defensed, plus a blocked field goal and a blocked punt as a senior. His rare blend of size at 6-foot-2 and elite timed speed made him a favorite of Raiders scouts, who saw upside in a player still relatively new to the cornerback position.

2025 season recap

Porter played all 17 games as a rookie for Las Vegas, recording 30 solo tackles and three pass breakups but no interceptions. He struggled at times in coverage, allowing an 87.6 passer rating when targeted, reflecting the typical learning curve for a corner with limited experience at the position.