Pending Steelers free agents who are likely gone after 2022

Bush hasn’t played well enough to earn a second deal

A lot was riding on Devin Bush this season. While his time as the every-down starter was finished, he is a former top-ten pick with his contract set to expire after this season concludes. He needs a solid season in order to get some consideration for a starting role in 2023. Bush hasn’t played horribly by any means, but his play is still far from where it should be given his pedigree.

While the Steelers naturally want more out of their top pick, they will be in a pickle when it comes to sorting out a potential new deal for Bush. As well, other teams may be willing to overpay for him, especially if they had an interest in him before he was drafted. Pittsburgh would be fools to lock him up for multiple years, and that could make finalizing a deal a difficult one.

His best chance to return could be a similar route that Terrell Edmunds took last year. He signed a veteran benefit deal, but since he has been with the team long enough, he can receive a total of over 2.5 million on his deal but only count just under 1.2 million against the cap. Bush has to be willing to accept that deal though and not have a lot of interest elsewhere. I find it unlikely that he returns in the offseason.