Steelers' Devin Bush Must Sign 1 Year Prove It Contract In Small Market

Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker, Devin Bush is a hot topic in Pittsburgh, as well as the NFL. Bush, the highly touted first-round pick out of the University of Michigan, is a free agent for 2023. 

Bush had an outstanding rookie season in 2019. This seemed to validate the Steelers' decision to move up and select him in the 10th spot. During his first season, Bush had 109 total tackles, 72 solo, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 4 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. 

He returned in 2020 and appeared to be headed in the same highly productive direction. Then during the Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns, he tore his ACL.  

Bush returned in 2021, but he appeared to be a shell of his former self. The 2022 season showed improvement, but it wasn't enough for the Steelers to give him the fifth-year option. 

The Steelers Are Letting Bush Find A New Home

Fans aren't the only ones speculating about the fate of Bush. Analysts and insiders around the NFL are discussing possible new landing spots for him. On his podcast, The Arthur Moats Experience, former Steelers linebacker, Arthur Moats weighed in:

"A change of scenery definitely is needed for him. I feel like as a player, if it was just Devin Bush the player, I don't think it hurts to have depth. I don't think it hurts to have talent."

Moats acknowledges that while Bush didn't have a perfect season in 2022, there was a definite improvement. Bush's worst game of the season came when he couldn't stop the run against the Baltimore Ravens. The next Ravens game, Bush found himself benched in favor of rookie, Mark Robinson.  

"Last year was one of the better performances since the injury and when you're talking about the full body of work. The issue in that Ravens game is they were running the ball at him. You're a linebacker. When you're talking about paying a guy, what does he bring, what is he doing specifically and that's why I'm like as depth, sure."   

One of the issues, according to Moats, is that Bush has a reputation to uphold because he was a first-round pick, people expect more. Moats thinks his first-round status will earn him a spot to compete on another team, but says Bush hasn't had the production to garner a huge contract:

"I think a team would just simply bring him in and say, 'Hey, you can compete in here,' but I don't think they're going to be willing to just pay a ton right now. If he's smart, you take a one-year deal, a small market or where there's not gonna be a lot of eyes on you. Go out there, get you some hot tape and then come back and hit this market. Because he is still young. I just don't think he gets paid this offseason."

How much of what happened with Bush is physical and how much of the decline is mental is hard to say. When he first returned, it felt fair to chalk some of it up to him still recovering or being worried about re-injury. However, as time wore on and a year passed, it felt as though we weren't seeing the effort we wanted out of him. 

Bush made matters worse by being blase and making a comment last preseason that struck a nerve. Fans want to see their players give their all. When asked if this was a make-or-break year for him, meaning 2022, and did he see it as his last chance to prove he still has it? Bush dug himself a hole:

"Like as a Steeler? I mean, it's business. I'll still be in the NFL, so we'll see."

Moats mentioned Bush's apparent lack of effort and uncertainty in finding his motivation:

"We haven't seen him play as if he had something to prove, even in a contract year. When we talked about Bud's [Dupree] fifth year, it's like Bud went crazy. What are you motivated by then? It wasn't being great, okay was it finances? Maybe it's not that, so if it's not money, it's not fame, what is it? That becomes an issue if I don't know how to motivate you, if I don't know how to inspire you to go out there and be your best. Now I'm starting to ask myself, are you the guy? Are you even the right fit? Do I need to just go somewhere else? That's why I think Pittsburgh is that in terms of moving on."