We don’t want to overact what we see during one week of training camp practices, but some things are hard to ignore. As soon as players took the practice field for Steelers training camp, it was clear to see who stood out and which players had the upper hand based on where they landed in the pecking order.
How reps are distributed and whether or not players are running with the starting unit tell us a lot about how they are viewed by Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff. Shockingly, one Steelers rookie cornerback has exceeded every early expectation.
When camp opened up, most expected veteran Cam Sutton to serve as the team’s starting slot cornerback. However, Sutton is facing an eight-game suspension to begin the season and won’t be available to the Steelers until Week 10 at the earliest (Pittsburgh has a bye in Week 9).
Fortunately, the Steelers landed priority free agent Beanie Bishop Jr. following the 2024 NFL Draft. Bishop has been outstanding in the early going. His performance after one week of training camp had Pittsburgh feeling comfortable enough to cut veteran slot cornerback, Josiah Scott.
Beanie Bishop is on the fast track to a major role on the Steelers’ defense
To the surprise of many, Bishop found himself working with the first-team defense since the start of training camp, and he has done nothing to suggest that he needs to be demoted.
Whether in shorts and shells or full pads, Bishop looks like the real deal at slot cornerback. His excellent speed allows him to stay in the hip pocket of wide receivers, and he certainly isn’t lacking in the toughness department.
Bishop has been described by numerous Pittsburgh beat reporters as one of the biggest winners early at Steelers training camp. Bishop played six college seasons (four with Western Kentucky, one with Minnesota, and one with West Virginia). As an older player, his route to the NFL was already tough, but he will have a chance to write his own story in this league.
Because of his confidence, demeanor, and physicality, Bishop possesses traces of Mike Hilton — another former undersized undrafted cornerback. Hilton didn’t let his 5’9”, 178-pound frame prevent him from being a pivotal player for the Steelers (and later for the Bengals).
Bishop’s nearly identical frame (5’9”, 180-pound) puts him at a bit of a disadvantage, but he has clearly made up for this early at Steelers training camp with an excellent feel for the game.
The undrafted rookie cornerback is not only in line to make the 53-man roster for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he may also wind up being the team’s starting slot cornerback in 2024 if he keeps balling out at practice.
