The Pittsburgh Steelers were in serious need of a slot cornerback heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. Pittsburgh's answer at slot cornerback wasn't found in any of the seven rounds where the Steelers had seven total selections. However, General Manager Omar Khan may have found a diamond in the rough after the draft when the team signed undrafted cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. out of West Virginia. Bishop has been making plays all over the field so far in training camp and could be exactly what Pittsburgh needed. Bishop could go from undrafted to contributing on one of the NFL's best defenses.
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Cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. during a game with the West Virginia Mountaineers
The wide receiver position has been another concerning spot on the Steelers' roster with a serious lack of depth. George Pickens will be the team's number one wide receiver, but it's kind of a mystery after that. Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson will all have the chance to contribute, but it's hard to say which one will be the most reliable behind Pickens.
This is Jefferson's first season in Pittsburgh, Austin hasn't done much on the field in his first two seasons and Wilson is a third-round rookie. Any one of them could be a solid number two wide receiver in Pittsburgh. Bishop has had the chance to get a look at Pittsburgh's receivers closer than anyone else, in coverage. In an interview with Prospect Media, Bishop revealed his favorite Steelers wide receiver to cover thus far.
"My favorite matchup is Calvin [Austin] bro. We, you know, we working everyday and even during OTAs you know, he's a little short, fast guy and you know, he challenges me everyday you know, so. He gives me those looks that the big guys ain't going to be able to give me, because, you know obviously he's shorter and he's twitchier."
Bishop is definitely right about Austin's speed. Austin ran a 4.32 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine in 2022. He's only 5'8" and 170 pounds, so he won't be able to do things that wide receivers like Pickens can do, but he can definitely be an asset in his own way.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Calvin Austin III (#19) participates during training camp
Steelers Have Had UDFA Bishop Jr. Taking First Team Reps
Bishop isn't only in line to make the 53-man roster, but it looks like there's a good chance he starts Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Bishop could be a starter on a defense full of high draft picks and All-Pros and not look out of place. The big knock on him is that he's undersized, but Pittsburgh has seen that before at the slot cornerback position and it shouldn't be a big issue.
The last time there was consistent play at slot corner was before Mike Hilton left in free agency to sign with a division rival in the Cincinnati Bengals. Like Bishop, Hilton was an undersized, undrafted free-agent pickup made by Pittsburgh.
Hilton burst onto the scene and proved to be one of the best slot corners in the NFL, ideally, Pittsburgh experiences déja vu with Bishop. Since Hilton left, there hasn't been a guy that has been able to hold down the slot corner position the way Hilton did, and it's been quite the issue. Bishop could be the one to end the streak of inconsistent play at slot corner if he continues to perform at a high level.
Keith Srakocic / Associated Press
Former Steelers CB Mike Hilton getting ready before a play.
It's still early in training camp, so there's no guarantee that Bishop is the slot corner of the future and there's no guarantee that third year wide receiver Austin III can be a wide receiver two. Performing in training camp and performing in the regular season aren't the same, but if the two can carry their strong training camp performances into the season, Pittsburgh won't have as many gaping holes in the roster as initially expected.
Do you think Bishop and Austin will be the answers at two positions of need for the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!
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