Devin Bush

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		98	524	7.0	5
2025		17	125	2.0	3
2024		16	76	1.0	0
2023		13

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bears landed a solid value play by securing Devin Bush at $8.9M AAV, earning a B CVI that reflects smart roster building in today's inflated linebacker market. Bush operates as a solid starter who brings proven NFL experience and reliable production at a price point that won't handcuff Chicago's salary cap flexibility. At his current career stage, this deal represents the sweet spot for both sides — the Bears get a dependable veteran presence in the middle of their defense without the premium attached to elite linebackers, while Bush secures meaningful guaranteed money on a team investing in defensive infrastructure. The contract structure likely includes performance incentives that could make this even more team-friendly if Bush exceeds expectations, giving Chicago upside protection on what's already a measured investment. This signing exemplifies the type of calculated roster moves that championship-contending teams make — filling a key positional need with a capable veteran at market-appropriate value rather than chasing big names or bargain-basement gambles.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Devin's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Devin Bush enters his seventh NFL season as one of Chicago's most experienced defensive voices, a former top-10 pick reclaiming relevance after a difficult mid-career stretch. After back-to-back C+ campaigns in 2023 and 2024, Bush has responded emphatically in 2025, earning a B+ grade that reflects genuine resurgence rather than statistical noise. His rangy sideline-to-sideline athleticism remains a scheme fit for Matt Eberflus's defense, and his veteran instincts give Chicago a reliable anchor at the second level. Among starting linebackers league-wide, Bush is firmly back in the above-average tier. His tackle production is the headliner — 7.35 tackles per game against an NFL average of just 2.19 places him in elite company, right at the 7.32 elite threshold. His pass-defense numbers are equally impressive at 0.47 PDs per game, nearly matching the elite benchmark of 0.50 and far exceeding the league average of 0.18. The one blemish is pass-rush impact: his 0.12 sacks per game trails the NFL average of 0.15 and sits well below the elite mark of 0.51, a limitation that keeps his ceiling capped in blitz-heavy packages. His TFL rate of 0.56 per game is solidly above the league average of 0.27, suggesting he's winning at the point of attack even without consistent sack production. If Bush sustains this trajectory into 2026, a consistent A-range grade is within reach. The key variable is durability — he's played 98 career games but availability has been a recurring question. Watch whether Chicago extends him, which would be the clearest organizational signal that this resurg

How Devin Compares at the Position

Devin Bush ranks 32nd of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Devin between Patrick Queen (B+) just ahead and Eric Wilson (B+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Devin Bush's market perception is riding an undeniable wave right now, with public sentiment climbing sharply to an A- after what the NFL media has broadly framed as one of the best free agency moves of the 2026 offseason. Ian Rapoport and other prominent voices were quick to characterize the three-year, $30M deal — at $10M AAV — as a legitimate win for Chicago, not a panicked overpay, and that framing has stuck across major outlets that consistently describe the signing as smart market positioning for a proven NFL starter. The optimism is grounded in real production: in the 2025 season, Bush logged 125 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 interceptions across 17 games, numbers that reinforce the narrative of a healthy Bush as a legitimate defensive anchor — even as his steady-but-not-elite C+ performance grade keeps expectations measured rather than sky-high. That contrast between cautious analytical grading and enthusiastic public reception is actually what makes the narrative so interesting; fans are betting heavily on the upside of his elite 2019 form returning, while analysts are responsibly hedging on his injury history. The Bears' broader defensive investment activity — signing Jack Sanborn, Jaylon Jones, Neville Galimore, and James Lynch in the same window — only amplifies the Bush buzz, framing him as the centerpiece of a deliberate unit-wide rebuild rather than an isolated gamble. Bottom line: the narrative sits in a confident, forward-looking place, and unless health concerns resurface in training camp, there is nothing on the horizon threatening to pull this perception back down.