While his career has not gone the way many expected or hoped after his No. 10 overall selection in 2019, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season.
Following an up-and-down career where a major injury certainly played its part, what is the current estimated market value for Bush? Does it make sense for him to be back in Pittsburgh? And what options will the team have in the 2023 NFL Draft to fill his potential hole in the depth chart?
Devin Bush’s Career Has Largely Been a Disappointment to Many
When you’re in the NFL draft, and there’s a player on your board you love, the team will do anything to get them. But the Steelers have generally been a team that lets the draft come to them. That was not the case back in 2019, where for only the second time in team history, they moved up in the draft.
Who were they after? Former Michigan standout LB Devin Bush, who brought a mix of speed and finesse to his game and was viewed as the next Steelers great who could carry on the linebacker tradition.
But not all stories go the way we expect. That has been the case for Bush, as he’s yet to live up to his top-10 billing. Bush made an immediate impact as a rookie, recording 109 tackles (72 solo) in 15 games, two interceptions, a forced fumble, four recoveries, and a sack with nine tackles for a loss. But disaster hit in 2020 after tearing his ACL in Week 5.
This injury completely derailed Bush’s development, and it was something he even addressed with reporters this time last year.
“My third year (this season) was a year I’ve never experienced before, especially coming back from an injury like that,” Bush told reporters. “I had a lot of ups and downs, a lotta good times, a lot of bad times.
“Early in the season, it was definitely a learning process for me just getting my mind back in football mode. Towards the middle of the season, I was going through some more mental issues of just being out there and knowing I had to make plays, and winning was my biggest thing. Up until this point, I think I’m settling pretty good.”
Those mental issues stood out in 2021. Bush was thinking and then reacting, not just playing instinctual football, which made him a No. 10 overall pick. Bush played on 79% of the defensive snaps (14 games) and recorded just 70 tackles with one forced fumble. Additionally, his coverage skills have yet to develop, which is a head-scratcher for someone who ran a 4.43 at the NFL Combine.
2022 Has Been an Improvement for Bush After the Steelers Declined the Fifth-Year Option on His Contract
It was widely expected that the Steelers would decline Bush’s fifth-year option before the 2022 season was underway. Bush, 23, was set to make $10.9 million in the option year. Instead, he’ll hit free agency after the 2022 season.
All things considered, this season has mostly been an improvement for Bush if we view him as a player and remove the draft capital and expectations that come with it. Bush has been playing downhill more, and his games against the Eagles (Week 8) and Bengals (Week 11) are good examples of what he was expected to do.
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Through 14 games, he has 76 tackles (second on the team) but has no interceptions, sacks, or forced fumbles. However, he did have a game-saving pass deflection against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
Still, Bush’s up-and-down play leaves many wondering what the future will be for him. Some days he plays aggressively, and others (Week 14 vs. BAL), he’s a non-factor and is quickly turned out by an OL getting to the second level and is unable to shed blocks. In fairness, the whole unit struggled. The Ravens ran it 42 times and the linebackers combined for just 15 tackles, a third of which were assisted tackles.
There was also an interesting series of responses that came from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin a few weeks back during his Tuesday press conference. A reporter asked the question, “Has Devin earned a bigger role? He played a lot more this game in terms of the division of labor at inside linebacker.”
The response from Tomlin: “Robert Spillane was hurt.”
A follow-up of, “He played more than Myles, too,” was met by another splash of cold water from Tomlin, who said, “Myles was hurt maybe the week before.”
More than likely, this is Tomlin just staying out of it all as he tends to do, but given the situation, it’s certainly noteworthy depending on what happens down the line.
Devin Bush Could Be a Very Inexpensive Option Based on His Estimated Market Value
According to Spotrac, Bush’s current estimated market value is a one-year/$3 million contract, which would be a significant cost saving for Pittsburgh if they were to re-sign him when compared to what he would have made if they picked up his fifth-year option.
But does Bush want to be in Pittsburgh? When asked in the preseason, he certainly didn’t make it appear as if there would be any lost feelings.
“It’s the business,” Bush said. “I mean, I’m gonna still be in the NFL. So, we’ll see.”
Given the needs at multiple positions both on the offense and defense for the Steelers and the estimated cost of Bush, it makes sense to bring him back. Even if he’s more of a rotational LB, if the improvements continue, which would be expected the further Bush is removed from his ACL tear, the more value there is in bringing him back. That is if he wants to return.
Pittsburgh’s Lack of Play-Making Linebackers Leaves Them Thin on the Depth Chart
While Myles Jack has been productive from a volume aspect (team-high 100 tackles), the $11.25 million cap hit could be too much to take on for someone who is a liability in coverage. However, it would take the Steelers exercising the opt-out in his contract to move on, and given the lack of depth, especially if Bush leaves, the odds point to Jack returning.
Among the three starting LBs, only former UDFA and pending free agent Spillane has the only recorded sack. In fact, the trio does not have a single interception, forced fumble, or fumble recovery this season. However, all three allowed a receiving touchdown to Samaje Perine back in Week 9, which is, something.
A team that has hung its hat on the ability to stop the run, the Steelers have allowed 100+ yards in nine games this year, including 471 yards in Weeks 12 through 14 when, in years past, the running game got better as the season moved into December.
A Deep 2023 Draft Class Needs To Be Exploited by the Steelers Even if Devin Bush Stays
The Steelers’ first two needs to address are offensive tackle and cornerback. Based on current draft capital, players like Ohio State’s OT Paris Johnson Jr., Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski, or Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. make a ton of sense in Round 1. I’d throw in EDGE and interior linemen on both sides of the ball and both interior and outside linebacker positions.
Basically, Pittsburgh could go BPA and end up with a significant boost compared to now. Behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, there is little depth to speak of at the moment. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Steelers trade back and acquire more picks. Currently, they have three inside the top 44 and four in the top 75.
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Alabama’s Henry To’oTo’o or Notre Dame’s Tommy Eichenberg would be massive additions in the early-second or third round if available. DeMarvion Overshown from Texas has a long frame and closes distance well. I’d also have Trenton Simpson (Clemson), Daiyan Henley (Washington State), Noah Sewell (Oregon), Drew Sanders (Arkansas), and Dee Winters (TCU) on my shortlist for the 2023 NFL Draft.
One thing is certain, the Steelers have several decisions to make this offseason, with the potential for a brand new starting LB room on the horizon in 2023. Whether Bush is a part of the future plans is something we will have to wait and see.