Steelers Waive Thomas Graham; Beanie Bishop Appears to Win Slot CB Battle

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released slot cornerback Thomas Graham, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV.

Graham had been the team’s starting slot cornerback in the final preseason game against the Detroit Lions, while undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop was working his way back from an undisclosed injury.

Bishop was back working with the first team at practice this week, and it appears that at least for now, the Steelers are going with the young guy, as Graham will go through waivers.

Graham showed versatility as an inside and outside cornerback during training camp, but had not been working with the top special teams units. He finished the preseason with three tackles and one pass defended.

A 25-year-old Oregon alum, Graham signed with the Steelers in January after having spent time with the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He played in four games for the Bears in 2021, and made one start, finishing with 13 tackles, one for a loss, and four pass breakups. In 2022, he played in seven games for the Browns, mostly on special teams. He spent almost all of the 2023 season on Cleveland’s injured reserve list.

Bishop, an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia, appears to be the last man standing in the slot cornerback battle, though the Steelers could still look for an upgrade after roster cuts around the league.

The Steelers also released outside linebacker Kyron Johnson and wide receiver Quez Watkins early in the day on Tuesday before the league-mandated cut-down to 53 players.