Steelers Knew Early That Beanie Bishop Wasn’t Like Most UDFAs

UNITY TWP., Pa. — In many ways, it’s not surprising that West Virginia cornerback Beanie Bishop was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

The 5-foot-9 cornerback is obviously undersized for his primary position, and was ranked 312th in his class by NFL Mock Draft Database — only 257 players get drafted.

The Steelers seemed to have an inkling that Bishop might slip through the cracks and into the undrafted free agent pool — and Omar Khan and company also seemed to have an inkling that if he did, they were going to be ready to pounce.

So when Mr. Irrelevant was named and Rich Eisen signed off from NFL Network without Bishop’s name being called on draft day, Khan got to work on securing a player the Steelers believed could be their slot cornerback of the future.

“It was something that they told me and I kind of got wind of it early that they were in search for a Nickel and they feel that I could fill that role, with my tacking abilities and being able to cover, as well,” Bishop said during the first week of Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College.

The Steelers might’ve had some inside info on Bishop. Former Steelers coaching assistant Blaine Stewart spent his first season as West Virginia’s tight ends coach in 2023. He saw what Bishop was capable of.

“It’s what the Steelers do well,” Stewart said in May. “They take Nickels that are slightly undersized, like Mike Hilton, and grow them into great players.”

RELATED: Beanie Bishop Is Watching Film on Ex-Steelers CB Mike Hilton

Even Khan and company probably didn’t expect that signing Bishop would go as well as it has, though. He made the move from outside corner, where he played at WVU, to the slot on day one of rookie minicamp back in May. During the spring practices, he mostly worked in behind veterans like Josiah Scott and Grayland Arnold, but still got a lot of playing time, compared to the typical UDFA.

Come Day 1 of training camp and Bishop was already a starter, passing all the vets ahead of him to take nearly all of the first-team slot corner reps so far in Latrobe.

“I feel like I had a pretty good OTAs and minicamp and things like that,” Bishop said. “I knew I was going to get some reps. This many reps? I wasn’t really sure about.”

Part of the package is that Bishop is wise beyond a typical rookie’s years. He’ll be 25 this season and played six years of college football, playing in a whopping 92 collegiate games in his time with Western Kentucky, Minnesota and West Virginia.

West Virginia cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., WVU Athletics

Then, the Steelers surrounded Bishop with a veteran-laden secondary, with vets like DeShon Elliott, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Donte Jackson letting the rookie just be able to focus on doing his thing.

“It’s done a lot,” he said. “I was just out there playing free. Guys like Minkah, DeShon and Joey [Porter], those guys are making calls and making more comfortable. I don’t really have to think so much, just go out there and make plays.”

Now, not only is Bishop starting, but the competition is thinning. The Steelers released Scott on Monday night, after the vet of 39 NFL games had fallen to third on the depth chart behind Bishop and Arnold. It’s not even August yet, and Bishop seems to have won a major role on the team.

“I’m trying to take advantage of all the reps that I get,” he said. “Every day, I’m trying to compete for a spot, just like everyone else. I just want to be able to take the most advantage of it.”

Khan’s first two draft classes have been very well regarded, but if Bishop keeps up this meteoric rise, it’ll be a scouting win for the Steelers way beyond landing a quality first-round pick.

The rest of the league passed on Bishop seven straight times, and the Steelers and their small slot corner seem poised to make them pay.

RELATED: Why Won’t Mike Tomlin Play More Steelers Rookies Earlier