The New York Giants came up empty on trade deadline day, but that doesn't mean they can't improve the roster. The Pittsburgh Steelers have released second-year cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. from their practice squad on Monday, per the official announcement from the club:
We have released CB Beanie Bishop Jr. from the Practice Squad. @BordasLaw
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 3, 2025
The move comes as a surprise, especially considering the black and yellow allow the most passing yards per game through Week 9. Still, one team's trash is another team's... depth option. And while the Steelers might not have a spot for him on their junior varsity team, a team with a frustrating amount of mounting secondary concerns might just have room for the 5-foot-9, 182-pound former undrafted free agent.
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Good things come in small packages. Insert other cliché here. The point is, with Big Blue's backend concerns growing by the week, taking a flier on a player like Bishop is exactly the forward-thinking move general manager Joe Schoen should jump on instantly.
With Tuesday's trade deadline officially in the rearview — and zero moves made — the former Western Kentucky Hilltopper, turned Minnesota Gopher, turned West Virginia Mountaineer alumnus might just be the next-best roster move New York can find.
Beanie Bishop's Steelers release could solve Giants' secondary concerns
The Giants' secondary is hanging on by duct tape. Injuries to corners Paulson Adebo and Cor'Dale Flott have given Deonte Banks, Korie Black, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse larger roles than they're cut out for. Even the safety room has been hit with the injury bug, with Jevón Holland working through a knee issue.
That’s where Bishop comes in.
He looked the part as a rookie in Pittsburgh — 45 tackles, seven pass breakups, and four interceptions in 17 games (six starts). He didn’t offer much on special teams, and the Steelers loaded up on vets like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay, so he got squeezed out. But the guy can definitely play.
He’s a pure slot corner — 492 of his 549 snaps came inside last year, per Pro Football Focus [$] — which somewhat fits what the Giants need —depth.
Second-year nickel Dru Phillips has regressed hard, and with the way injuries have gutted the defensive back room, adding Bishop almost makes too much sense. Whether as a high-end backup or stopgap starter, it’s a free dart throw for a team desperate for help.
And at just 25 years old, he’s still got some upside. Schoen should be all over this easy addition.