Every year after the draft, there are a few gems that teams are able to sign in the undrafted free agency period. The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t overly active in that market this year, signing just five undrafted free agents. Of the five players, West Virginia defensive back Beanie Bishop has by far the most potential to make the Steelers roster and be a key contributor. Pittsburgh’s general manager Omar Khan certainly has his hopes up for Bishop, as he shared with the DVE Morning Show.
“Yeah, Beanie Bishop. I can’t tell you how excited we were to have an opportunity to sign Beanie Bishop after the draft. We had him here for a visit. When he was here, we talked about our defense and how he would fit in. We really felt like he was a guy that could come in here and compete.”
Omar Khan Has High Hopes for Undrafted Rookie Beanie Bishop
Beanie Bishop heads to the Steelers after a very productive career for the Mountaineers. In 2023, Bishop was recognized as a Second-Team All-American after stuffing the stat sheet. On the season, Bishop had an FBS-leading 20 pass breakups and four interceptions. Bishop isn’t just a playmaker in coverage though; he is very good in run support, too. Look no further than the 67 tackles he totaled last season, an impressive number for a slot cornerback.
Beanie Bishop Has a Strong Chance to Make the Roster
Khan went onto add that the Steelers expect Bishop to compete for the slot cornerback spot this season along with providing value on special teams. It is no surprise to see Pittsburgh target a player like Beanie Bishop as a potential slot cornerback. They have a gaping hole at the position and typically expect their slot corners to be strong at stopping the run. Bishop has a similar build and skillset to Mike Hilton, who was also an undrafted free agent and ended up being a very good nickel cornerback for Pittsburgh.
It is a promising sign for Bishop’s chances of making the roster that Khan mentioned his potential special teams value. The Steelers lost two key gunners this offseason in Miles Boykin and James Pierre. While he is undersized at 5’9″, 180 pounds, Bishop is very quick and a secure tackler, two very important aspects of being a gunner. If he does ultimately make the roster, expect Bishop to at least be in a rotation at slot cornerback. But the special teams abilities certainly won’t hurt his chances.
Overall, it is not a surprise to see Omar Khan have high praise for Beanie Bishop. He plays the exact brand of football that Pittsburgh expects of their slot cornerbacks. His lack of size doesn’t prevent him from being a very physical player. Bishop is more than willing to stick his helmet right in the thick of things against the run. He’s no liability in coverage, either. In today’s NFL, slot cornerback is a very valuable position. Bishop’s ball skills, strong run support credentials, and special teams potential certainly make him a rookie to keep an eye on as training camp approaches.
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