The Pittsburgh Steelers have made some great undrafted signings over the years. James Harrison, Ramon Foster, Willie Parker, and Donnie Shell, just to name a few, have made their mark on the Steelers after failing to be drafted.
The most recent success story has been running back Jaylen Warren. Signing with Pittsburgh in 2022, he had an impressive camp and preseason to make the initial roster. He showed toughness and a great skillset and emerged as the Steelers' number two running back behind Najee Harris.
Being undrafted puts an extra chip on any player's shoulder. They must work harder than most to earn their spot on a roster and, if they earn that spot, to keep it.
Beanie Bishop had a great final college season at West Virginia where he was a consensus second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12. He led the nation in passes defended (24) and pass breakups (20). He also had four interceptions for the Mountaineers.
Bishop was not invited to the NFL Combine, but he did have a good showing at the Big 12 conference pro day. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash which was the best at the event.
Bishop is undersized at just 5'10", 183 lbs but he makes up for it with his toughness and ability to play the ball in the air. He will compete through camp as an option for slot corner with Cam Sutton suspended for the first 6 games of the year.
Beanie Bishop could be the answer for Steelers at slot cornerback
Bishop's willingness to put his nose in at the line of scrimmage and tackle ball carriers in the run game are qualities the Steelers love in their slot corners. His ability to play the ball in the air and his speed will help him transition to bigger, faster receivers at the NFL level, despite his smaller size.
The Steelers have a major need at slot corner, especially early in the year due to Cam Sutton's suspension. The good news for Bishop is the competition is thin and got thinner when Grayland Arnold was placed on season-ending IR.
Bishop played in Week 1 of the preseason before being held out in Week 2 for what was described as a precaution for a minor injury. Barring a setback, he should suit up in Week 3 to show he can handle starting duties until Sutton returns. Thomas Graham Jr. seems to be the only competition and could make a push for the spot with a strong finish to the preseason.
Should Bishop win the job and start in the slot Week 1, he could be the next undrafted player to make a mark on the team and the league. For the Steelers, the hope is high that he will be that to help fill the void.