The Steelers will not pick up the fifth-year option on linebacker Devin Bush, per Ed Bouchette of The Athletic. That means that Bush will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2023.
The normally conservative Steelers made a bold move in the 2019 draft, trading their No. 20 and No. 52 overall selections that year, along with a 2020 third-rounder, to the Broncos in order to acquire Denver’s No. 10 overall pick. Pittsburgh used that choice on Bush, and it had every reason to believe the Michigan product would excel in the middle of its defense for years to come.
Unfortunately, things have not worked out as hoped. Bush started 15 games as a rookie and racked up 109 combined tackles, two picks, and a sack, but he suffered a torn ACL in Week 5 of the 2020 season and has struggled to find his footing this year. Even before the 2021 campaign got underway, it was announced that trade acquisition Joe Schobert would take over the role of defensive signal-caller, as the Steelers wanted Bush to focus on his recovery.
And while Bush has played all but one game this year, his performance has left much to be desired. Pro Football Focus’ metrics consider Bush the fourth-worst linebacker in football among players with enough snaps to qualify, and that ranking generally jibes with the eye test. Bush has struggled in coverage and against the run, and he has not made any progress as a pass rusher. As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, Bush has stayed upbeat and is well-liked, but the organization is becoming increasingly frustrated with his lack of development.
It is certainly possible that, by having a fully healthy offseason and putting his ACL tear further in the rearview mirror, Bush could start to play up to his potential in 2022 and earn a second contract with Pittsburgh. But for now, it stands to reason that the Steelers would not want to commit to a fully-guaranteed $10.5MM salary for 2023 for a player that presently looks more like a liability than an asset.
Anytime you can’t pick up the fifth year option for a 10th overall pick, it’s a bad pick. When you trade what they traded it’s a complete fail. I think they watched White’s tape when the graded Bush!
He was on his way to being a good pick until the ACL tear. That wrecked h8m physically AND mentally. No way the Steelers could’ve foreseen it.
That’s a sign of being a pretty weak minded person if an ACL tear wrecked him mentally to the point of being the 4th worst linebacker in the NFL. Hundreds and hundreds of guys have come back from the exact same injury and been as good or at least average after recovery.
The same applies to the physical “wrecking”. If he was talented enough to be the 10th overall pick, he should be able to at least be a competent backup even if his injury has cost him a step or two. Seems to me that the injury a year and a half ago is being used as a convenient excuse and that there are other reasons for his horrific play. Too many other guys have come back from this injury or much worse for me to believe that it is what has “wrecked” him. 4th worst in the entire NFL is pretty pathetic.
Pretty much everyone had Bush grades very high. Everyone miscalculated – not just the Steelers.
How do you miscalculate a torn ACL? I mean is there a formula to add that predictor into grading?
Say what you will make whatever excuse you want Steelers traded a bunch to get him they aren’t picking up his option it was a bad move
I say you’re wrong and stupid then.
MadmanTX –
You looking in a mirror when you say that?
Did you see him prior to his injury? Do you realize it’s only been a year since the injury? Love to see you perform your normal duties after such a difficult injury. He’s sucked. Almost playing scared. But he was going to be here for a while before the injury
TJECK109 –
It’s actually been a year and a half…plenty of time to recover and more than a great majority of players need. Adrian Peterson made in back in what 8-9 months…and was just as effective as a running back? You either must be a personal friend of Bush or your Steeler goggles are fogging up. 4th worst in the entire NFL…if he wasn’t healed he would be on the injury list. But he’s not. He’s just not good enough to justify a roster spot
Whether it’s the injury, his mind, or both that’s causing it, Bush has been absolutely terrible this season. As in, as bad as I’ve ever seen a Steeler linebacker play level of bad. He not only shouldn’t have his option picked up, he probably shouldn’t be starting at this point.
He was very good before the injury. Hopefully he’ll figure it out at some point, get that back.