The Chicago Bears signed Derick Bush as a UDFA after the 2022 NFL draft. Bush is a cornerback from Coastal Carolina.
Who is Derick Bush
Bush came into Coastal Carolina to get an opportunity to play and did just that, starting seven games a true freshman. Bush spent the next three years locked into the starting cornerback job. He was starting during their magical 2020 season and intercepted Zach Wilson in their upset of BYU.
The senior cornerback did not get an NFL combine invite but did work out at his Pro Day. Unfortunately, some athletic numbers may have caused him to go undrafted.
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The first thing to note is that his arm length is below average. This is already a strike, especially for an outside cornerback, where length is so valuable. Bush tested fine in some areas, but the most important areas for cornerbacks are the most concerning.
A 4.58 in the 40-yard dash is below average, but the agility scores may be more concerning. Agility is valuable for cornerbacks, and these tests speak to quick feet, balance, and change of direction.
This shows that Bush is much more of a start-and-stop player than a fluid mover. There are very NFL cornerbacks ever to post his type of numbers in these areas, let alone successful ones.
Could Derick Bush make the Chicago Bears roster?
A four-year starter at cornerback with good tape is always something to bring in to be competition. However, Bush has a lot stacked up against him. Questionable length, speed, and agility add up to be a serious problem for a cornerback.
While he was a four-year starter at Coastal Carolina, he was not a captain, nor was he an All-Conference performer. While the Chicago Bears cannot like their cornerback situation, he come in at a disadvantage from a prospect profile in comparison to players such as Duke Shelley, and he may be here for training camp with questions of how much longer he will stay.