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Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cast-off and first-round failure Devin Bush made news this NFL free agency when he signed with the Chicago Bears for three years, $30 million. That obviously breaks down to $10 million per year, which may sound like a lot to Steelers fans, but was surprisingly considered a top-five “value” contract of 2026.
Pro Football Focus analyst Mason Cameron published a list of the top five “best value signings” of the spring, and Bush’s Bears deal made the cut. Cameron’s reasoning stemmed from the ex-Steelers’ recent resurgence with the Cleveland Browns.
“Bush, a former top-10 pick, revitalized his career over the past two seasons in Cleveland, culminating in the fourth-highest PFF overall grade (87.6) among linebackers this past season,” Cameron noted. He added that Bush boasted “97th percentile grades in box coverage and run defense since the start of 2024, [and] brings a strong, well-rounded skill set to a Bears defense that desperately needs a steady presence in the middle after ranking 31st in offensive success rate allowed in 2025.”
“At just $10 million in average annual value, Bush’s contract comes in at a bargain compared to other options on the linebacker market,” the PFF analyst continued. “Six linebackers signed this offseason will earn more on average than Bush, including former Bear Tremaine Edmunds, who inked a three-year, $36 million deal with the [New York] Giants.”
Cameron concluded that “Bush slotted in at ninth overall on PFF’s free agent rankings, giving Chicago massive value for the price.”
Devin Bush’s 1st-Round Traits Finally Popped With Browns, Leading to Bears Signing News
GettyDevin Bush rebooted his career with the Cleveland Browns.
For those who have lost track of Bush’s career since his departure from the Steelers organization in 2023, the former first-round talent finally lived up to his draft status in 2024 and 2025.
The question is, will Bush be able to replicate that level of play without former Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz? Who seemingly helped him realize his true potential.
With Cleveland, Bush turned into a tackling machine and an elite run defender. PFF credited him with top-tier run defense grades of 86.4 and 87.3 over the past couple of years.
Bush even improved in pass coverage last season, earning a career-high coverage grade of 80.4. For reference, the remainder of his career mostly had a coverage grade somewhere in between 50.0 and 60.0.
The ex-Steeler was also a much worse run defender with Pittsburgh and Seattle, so he got a lot better in that area, too.
This data makes Chicago’s contract offer somewhat risky, despite Cameron highlighting it as a value deal. With the Bears, we should find out if Bush was a product of the Browns’ very underrated defensive system, or if he’s truly breaking out into the star linebacker he was drafted to be.
No Steelers NFL Free Agency News on PFF’s List
The Steelers had a great offseason by most assessments, assuming Aaron Rodgers returns at quarterback. And yet, none of the Steelers’ signings made Cameron’s “best value” list.
To make matters worse, one of the Baltimore Ravens’ pickups was named a top-five value move: safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
It seems the Steelers will have to prove they made the right moves on the field. Of course, that probably only happens if Rodgers returns.
Needless to say, a lot is riding on the Pittsburgh quarterback situation in 2026.
Michael Obermuller covers the NFL as an Associate Editor for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the NFL breaking news operation, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller
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