3 expected starters Steelers could replace after 2022

Steelers could replace Devin Bush

Devin Bush has had a tumultuous first three seasons in Pittsburgh after the Steelers traded up for him in the 2019 NFL draft. He showed flashes of excellent play as a rookie that had fans excited about his potential but overall was inconsistent at best.

Bush got off to a great start in 2020 before an ACL tear ended his season, and he hasn’t been the same since. ACL tears may not be as problematic as they used to be, but Bush clearly wasn’t at full speed in 2021 despite starting the season healthy enough to play.

The elite athleticism that made him such a unique prospect coming out of Michigan never fully returned last season, exposing his lack of size in run defense. As a cover player, he still showed good instincts, but once again the quickness he showed before wasn’t the same. He wasn’t as decisive as he was in 2019 or 2020 either which made his diminished speed show up even more.

The good news for Bush is that the defense around him should be much improved, which will hopefully allow him to play faster this season. He will be another year removed from his knee injury as well. That should help him regain some of the athleticism that separated him from most other linebackers. The bottom line is that if Bush doesn’t look like the player he was in 2020, his days as a Steeler could be over. I still believe in his talent, but he has to show he can recover fully and make an impact.