The Chicago Bears are likely going to need to sign a linebacker in free agency. They have Jack Sanborn, but if they lose Nicholas Morrow, they will need to replace him. They got satisfactory play out of Morrow, and they did not pay much, so they have to be thinking that if they buy low again, they will create surplus value.
Should Chicago Bears sign Devin Bush in NFL free agency?
If the Chicago Bears really want to buy low with high upside, the name to watch is Devin Bush. It is almost surprising to see that Devin Bush is a free agent despite being 24 years old. There will be players drafted this season around his age. Most players do not see their best play until they hit 25, so the thought is that the best play is ahead of Bush.
Bush entered the NFL when he was 20 years old because he knew he was going to be a top-1 pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to number ten and took him. Bush was fine as a rookie, but tore his ACL in his second NFL season.
His third and fourth seasons were disasters. The Steelers declined his fifth-year option and now he is not only a free agent, but he also has no buzz. Spotract has him projected to make $3M in free agency.
That is what the Chicago Bears paid for Nicholas Morrow last season. If you told Ryan Poles that he could get a former top-10 pick who is just 25 years old for the same price as Nicholas Morrow, he probably will have eyes on the situation. We already saw Dave Borgonzi get defensive coordinator consideration, so the credit for the play of Morrow and Sanborn has gone to him. This could be the next project that assures he moves up the ladder.
There are serious questions to answer with Devin Bush, as the Steelers usually are a patient team who does not let guys they invest that much in walk. What happened between his ACL tear and now that has the Steelers so far out on him? During his last weeks with the team looked like a player who knew the team was moving on from him. Will he get the fire back knowing that the only offers for him are under $5M?
If the Chicago Bears feel comfortable with why he is such a low-cost option at this point, they have to be enticed by what they could pull out of this gamble. If a team takes a risk on Devin Bush and sees it go well, that team may be the Bears.