There have been more draft busts over the past decade for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round than normal. They have prided themselves on drafting and developing their own talent to keep their franchise stable. They have, in fact, started moving toward the modern era of free agency spending while continuing to uphold their tradition of strong draft classes.
Sometimes the Steelers take a gamble in the top round of the NFL Draft, and that's exactly what they did when they traded up to select Devin Bush in 2019. The deal allowed Pittsburgh to move up to the 10th pick from the Denver Broncos in exchange for picks 20, 52, and a 2020 third-round selection. It was a heavy price, and that trade-up made Bush's failure to live up to the hype even more toxic.
Bush played four seasons with the Steelers, but he never lived up to expectations. He had a strong rookie season, but an early-career injury made it difficult for him to rebound. He was never the same player, and it forced him to break up with Pittsburgh. He jumped to Seattle for a failed year before finding a home with the Cleveland Browns, where he has found a second chance at a solid career.
Ex-Steelers draft bust Devin Bush is turning into a star for one of their division rivals
After 2022, the Steelers and most of the NFL knew Bush was one of the biggest draft busts in recent history. The Seahawks gave him a shot to rebound, but he was mostly a depth player for them in 2023. His last shot at redemption came in 2024 when he signed a deal with the Browns. He did not do anything remarkable, but he began showing promise as a starter once again for the division rival.
Thus far, it has been a resurgent year for Pittsburgh's former draft bust. Bush is enjoying some of his best production in the NFL yet. He is close to the same rookie numbers that made Steelers Nation excited about him. You can see the comfort he has established in Cleveland, and it is clearly paying off. If he finishes the campaign at this level, he should be rewarded with a hefty contract.
READ MORE: Steelers fans forced to watch ex-DB turn into a star for an AFC contender
Bush is having one of, if not his best, campaigns as a pro. He has tallied 91 total tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions. That is an impressive season, and Bush still has four more games to play. It has been an impressive resurgence in a career that was labeled as a draft bust before then.
The Steelers wish they could've gotten that level of production from him.
Pittsburgh has no choice but to sit back and watch Bush find a nice rebound with their hated division foe. He hasn’t become a superstar, but he is putting up strong enough numbers to attract a massive contract offer this offseason. It's not common for a draft bust of his caliber to find his footing after leaving the team. It's a bittersweet pill the Steelers must accept.