Kevin Colbert broke the mold by trading up for Devin Bush. The Steelers are the team that always patiently waits for their turn in the draft and builds the roster without sacrificing other draft picks. Only twice have they traded up in the first round — Troy Polamalu (16th) in 2003, and Santonio Holmes (25th) in 2006 — and never into the top 10.
Here's why Bush merits the move:
When I wrote in early April that this was the year for Colbert to trade up in the first round, it was because I knew the caliber of talent available with the top two inside linebacker prospects was too good to pass up in 2019, and Colbert had the ammunition — ten draft picks — to move up.
Bush was widely considered the second best linebacker of this draft behind LSU's Devin White, but more accurately White was 1-A and Bush was 1-B. Bush had the second-best 40-yard dash time behind White's 4.42 seconds and tested high across the board:
But combine those measurements with Bush's game tape at Michigan and the Steelers have an impeccable athlete in the middle of their defense. Bush combines playmaking ability with sideline-to-sideline speed, leadership skills and awareness of how his roles in a defense. That's worth more than what Colbert gave up — the 20th pick, 52nd pick and a 2020 third-round pick — to draft Bush.
Here he is (No. 10) flashing that speed by running from the opposite hashmarks of the field to get to the sideline and cut off the scramble of Indiana's quarterback:
Take note of how quickly he changes directions and gets to top speed. That's vital to linebackers both chasing ball carriers and in coverage. Bush combines that speed with quick reaction and knowing how to properly fill various assignments.
Bush has that ability to be a jack-of-all-trades and solve multiple problems as a linebacker, regardless of where he lines up. Watch how he turns and runs with Ohio State's Mike Weber — one of the fastest running backs in this draft with a 4.47 40-yard dash — on a wheel route, breaking up the pass:
Even without looking for the ball, Bush was in position to wipe out any chance of a catch by being in Weber's hip pocket, forcing Dwayne Haskins to throw the perfect pass.
Just because Bush didn't look for and find the ball doesn't mean he lacks ball skills. There were plenty of plays where he showed the ability to play in space and find the ball within his assignment.
Watch how he plays a middle zone against Wisconsin in 2017. He starts the play by scoping the line for a run, but quickly backpedals more than ten yards to cut off the crossing pattern and intercept the pass:
Sure, he bobbled the interception. But the fact he could comfortably drop that far back to make a play on the ball and concentrate to complete the turnover is a skill the Steelers haven't had at linebacker since Ryan Shazier.
Bush represents more than just an athletic talent, but a field general that will find ways to contribute however possible. He's aware of his assignments at all times and knows when to adjust based off what offenses are trying to execute.
Watch how he cuts off his blitz assignment to jump and break-up this pass against Purdue:
Bush often put himself in the right spot to make a play and part of that came from his instincts as a football player. This was one aspect of his game that he has an advantage over White. White often overly relies on his athleticism and size to beat opponents, while Bush finds various ways to win situations.
Completing his skills is his ability to rush the passer, with ten sacks in his NCAA career. Bush rushed up the middle and off the edge to keep offensive lines guessing and maximize his athleticism.
Watch how he switched from playing a traditional inside linebacker role, jumped to an edge-rusher position and abused the right tackle to get the sack:
Bush is a talent that presents a threat at every level. He forces offensive lines to consider where he might rush while also being a coverage threat over the middle. Combine all that with locker-room leadership — he was captain of the Wolverines as a junior — and a motor doesn't stop running until after the final whistle and he's a player that can change everything.
Chris Thomas of the Detroit Free Press reported when Bush stated that teams should take his teammate Rashan Gary, an edge rusher, before him. That response doesn't come from a "me-first" type of player and shows the humility that makes a traditional leader in the Steelers organization.
Not only does Bush fit that mold of an X-factor type of playmaker in the middle of the defense, but he also fits the mentality of a leader that understands his job and the roles of players around him within defensive schemes.
This was the absolute right pick for talent at a position of serious need.
