By NICK FARABAUGH

pennlive.com

(TNS) — The Pittsburgh Steelers had an undrafted slot cornerback make their roster last year and start Week 1 in Beanie Bishop. Could it happen for the second year in a row?

New Steelers defensive back Sebastian Castro is a different player entirely from Bishop.

While Bishop is exclusively a slot cornerback, Castro can play safety and nickel cornerback.

That gives him a unique skill set that no one else on the roster has among the team’s depth players. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner believes Castro is the Steelers’ best undrafted free agent signing overall.

“A three-year starting safety — and a playmaker — for Phil Parker’s always-tough Iowa defense, Castro doesn’t have elite athleticism but is an extremely smart defender, both in pass coverage (especially zone) and run support.” Baumgardner wrote.

Castro, 24, should plop into that slot cornerback competition. Along with the slot cornerback job, he must become a proficient special teamer to make the team. He joins Logan Lee, Yahya Black, and Kaleb Johnson as Iowa Hawkeyes on the team, and the Steelers have drafted two Hawkeyes this year.

He ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine after measuring 5-foot-10, 203 pounds. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection while with Iowa. Castro had 14 tackles for loss and four interceptions. He had three interceptions in 2023, including a pick-six. Over his three years as a role player or starter, Castro had 14 passes defended and 163 tackles.

That profile gives Castro a real chance to push for a roster spot with a strong training camp and offseason. He will compete with Bishop, but if he puts everything together, he could be the team’s starting nickel cornerback.

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