The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the 2024 campaign with a question mark in the slot, as the team was set to depend on an undrafted rookie in Beanie Bishop for the job.
Bishop isn't off to a great start, unfortunately. He's surrendered a completion rate of 81.8% (9-of-11) and a passer rating of 133.3, according to Pro Football Focus. That said, he is coming off his best showing of the 2024 campaign in Week 3, when he finished with season-lows in completion rate (66.7%) and passer rating (92.4). Perhaps he's making progress? Only time will tell.
But if Bishop or someone else doesn't secure the slot cornerback role by season's end, that could lead to Pittsburgh exploring free agency for an answer. Knowing that, one NFL analyst, Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine, predicts that the Steelers will sign Las Vegas Raiders slot cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency in 2025.
"Beanie Bishop Jr. was a cool camp story. It's an incredible accomplishment for a player to go from undrafted free agent to starter on an NFL roster in one summer. That being said, he's going to have to show a lot of improvement over the course of the season for the Steelers to not be in the market for a slot corner next season," Ballentine wrote. "That's especially true with Nate Hobbs set to hit the market next season. He has proved to be a good slot corner for the Raiders, and he rarely leaves the field for them. Plugging him into the Pittsburgh defense makes them an even better unit in 2025."
Hobbs would be an upgrade, at least based on how Bishop has played thus far. Over three games, Hobbs, who had a career-best season in 2023, has given up a completion rate of 60% and a passer rating of 115.4, and he has two passes defensed. His PFF coverage grade (67.4) is also better than Bishop's (53.9).
If the Steelers find themselves in the market for a slot cornerback in 2025, Hobbs should definitely be on their radar.
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