Chicago Bears sign LB Devin Bush

Devin Bush's one-year, $8.9M signing earns a B Contract Value Index (CVI) — a middle-of-the-road value play that makes sense for a Bears linebacker room looking to add veteran depth without long-term commitment. At the $8.9M AAV price point, the Bears are betting on a short-term rental rather than a foundational piece, which is the right posture for a one-year deal in the offseason. Bush's tier as a solid-starter linebacker — not elite, but NFL-ready — aligns with that modest salary ceiling; this isn't a franchise-caliber playmaker commanding top-10 money at the position. The one-year structure is the key value driver here: it provides immediate linebacker help for a team currently seeded #2 in the NFC without eating cap space into 2027, and it gives both sides the flexibility to move on if the fit doesn't work. The real risk is age and durability — this is a veteran signing, not a young rebuild piece — so the Bears are essentially paying for proven availability rather than upside, which is defensible in preseason but leaves little margin for injury or underperformance. Overall, this is a prudent, low-drama acquisition that reflects realistic expectations: a capable backup or role player at a price that won't haunt the salary cap.