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Prepare yourselves, Steelers fans — an exciting offseason positional battle may be brewing in the shadows: undrafted rookie Sebastian Castro vs. Beanie Bishop Jr. for the starting slot CB role.
As an undrafted rookie himself in 2024, Bishop earning the role was a welcome surprise last season — and while him eventually losing the job to Cameron Sutton was disappointing, the second-year CB showed a lot of promise, accumulating four interceptions despite only starting four games.
However, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin did acknowledge that Bishop wouldn't be handed the role back in 2025:
"Excited about the upside of him, but certainly he will face some competitive challenges in re-earning that role in 2025."
Former Jets CB Brandin Echols is likely one of the "competitive challenges" Tomlin referenced, but Castro could be the biggest hurdle for Bishop to overcome.
As Nick Farabaugh previously reported, Castro is expected to play both safety and slot — a role that suits the versatile former Iowa Hawkeye, who has all the tools any team would want out of their nickel defender: stout against the run, plays the ball well in pass coverage, and hits hard. He was expected to be selected around the third or fourth round, which makes his inclusion on the Steelers’ defense as an undrafted rookie even sweeter.
Arguably one of the best run-stopping DBs in the 2025 NFL Draft, Castro will bring a much-needed skill set to a unit that struggled to stop opposing rushing attacks last season — and these assets may push the Steelers to start him over Beanie.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Will Sebastian Castro beat out Steelers CB Beanie Bishop in offseason?
Continue reading...
As an undrafted rookie himself in 2024, Bishop earning the role was a welcome surprise last season — and while him eventually losing the job to Cameron Sutton was disappointing, the second-year CB showed a lot of promise, accumulating four interceptions despite only starting four games.
However, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin did acknowledge that Bishop wouldn't be handed the role back in 2025:
"Excited about the upside of him, but certainly he will face some competitive challenges in re-earning that role in 2025."
Former Jets CB Brandin Echols is likely one of the "competitive challenges" Tomlin referenced, but Castro could be the biggest hurdle for Bishop to overcome.
As Nick Farabaugh previously reported, Castro is expected to play both safety and slot — a role that suits the versatile former Iowa Hawkeye, who has all the tools any team would want out of their nickel defender: stout against the run, plays the ball well in pass coverage, and hits hard. He was expected to be selected around the third or fourth round, which makes his inclusion on the Steelers’ defense as an undrafted rookie even sweeter.
Arguably one of the best run-stopping DBs in the 2025 NFL Draft, Castro will bring a much-needed skill set to a unit that struggled to stop opposing rushing attacks last season — and these assets may push the Steelers to start him over Beanie.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Will Sebastian Castro beat out Steelers CB Beanie Bishop in offseason?
Continue reading...
