Despite all the complaints about Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles not making splash moves in free agency, he is getting credit for one good signing.
The Bears signed linebacker Devin Bush early in free agency to a three-year, $30 million contract. Pro Football Focus writer Mason Cameron credited Poles for making one of the five best value signings of the offseason.
"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. Boasting 97th percentile grades in box coverage and run defense since the start of 2024, Bush 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. Six linebackers signed this offseason will earn more on average than Bush, including former Bear Tremaine Edmunds, who inked a three-year year, $36 million deal with the Giants. Bush slotted in at ninth overall on PFF’s free agent rankings, giving Chicago massive value for the price."
Devin Bush is looking like a great value signing for Bears
Bush is coming off one of the best seasons of his NFL career last year, as he had a career-high 125 tackles for the Cleveland Browns. He has always put up solid numbers throughout his NFL career.
Now he joins a Bears linebacker room that will most likely have T.J. Edwards and D'Marco Jackson in the starting rotation with Bush throughout the season. Bush makes for a better replacement for Edmunds, as he will be more consistent as a tackler and in coverage than what Bears fans saw from Edmunds.
Because of a good deal they got with signing Bush, they were able to sign other key starters like Coby Bryant and Kalif Raymond without breaking the bank. That single move helped Chicago in building the roster they needed to.
That doesn't mean Chicago will be done at linebacker, though, as they could look in the 2026 NFL Draft for more depth. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has been attached to the Bears as a potential pick.
Read more: Off the radar Big Ten prospect should be near the top of Bears' draft board
Bush is going to make a big difference on this defense and is a good signing for them for a great deal.