The New Orleans Saints have made some strategic roster moves, with Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announcing the addition of CB Beanie Bishop Jr. to the practice squad. This move comes with the release of RB Ian Wheeler, as well as the waiver of WR Kevin Austin Jr. and T Barry Wesley.
Beanie Bishop Jr., a 5'10, 184-pound cornerback, brings an impressive resume to the team. He initially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft, showcasing his talent with the West Virginia Mountaineers. In his rookie season, Bishop Jr. made a significant impact, playing in 17 games with six starts. He recorded an impressive 39 tackles (25 solo), two stops for a loss, a half-sack, seven pass breakups, and four interceptions, earning him a spot on the 2024 Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team.
The Louisville, Kentucky, native's defensive prowess was further highlighted when he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in October 2024. During that month, he accumulated 16 tackles (13 solo), two tackles for loss, and an NFL-best three interceptions. Bishop Jr.'s performance as a rookie was remarkable, as he tied for the most interceptions by an undrafted rookie in 2024, the most by a Steelers undrafted rookie in franchise history, and the ninth-most by an undrafted rookie since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
Bishop Jr.'s success continued in his collegiate career, playing for Western Kentucky (2018-21), Minnesota (2022), and West Virginia (2023). Over six seasons, he participated in 62 games, accumulating 172 tackles (133 solo), one sack, one forced fumble, 30 pass breakups, and seven interceptions. In his final season with the Mountaineers, Bishop Jr. started all 13 games at cornerback, leading the nation with 24 pass breakups, ranking second in the FBS with 17 forced incompletions, and tying for 19th nationally with four interceptions. His outstanding performance earned him a spot as a Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist and an All-Big 12 first-team selection, showcasing his versatility and impact on both defense and special teams.
