Is Devin Bush Quietly the Bears’ Best Move of the 2026 Offseason?
Devin Bush’s PFF grades and production suggest the Bears may have landed one of the NFL’s best value signings heading into the 2026 season.
Nobody was blowing up their phone when the Chicago Bears signed Devin Bush during the first wave of 2026 free agency. Sure, Bears fans were excited, but it wasn't viewed as a transaction that changed the landscape in the NFC.
Pro Football Focus noticed, though. And if you've been paying attention to what this Bears defense is actually trying to build, you should too.
Why the Chicago Bears Signed Devin Bush in Free Agency
Bush spent the last couple of seasons quietly playing the best football of his career in Cleveland, a long way from the guy who looked like a first-round bust after blowing out his knee in Pittsburgh.
Bush ended the 2025 season with 125 tackles, a career high, and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
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The Bears didn't need a splashy name at linebacker. They needed someone who could anchor the middle of the defense, handle all three downs, and not blow up the cap.
Bush checks every one of those boxes.
Devin Bush's PFF Grades Make Him One of the Best Linebackers in the NFL
Last year, Bush posted an 87.6 overall grade from PFF, which ranked fourth among 88 linebackers. His run defense grade was 87.3. His coverage grade was 80.4. Both landed in the top ten at the position.
That's not a one-category wonder. That's a complete linebacker, and it followed a strong 79.2 overall grade in 2024, which means this isn't a fluke.
Bush is trending up.
How Devin Bush Fits the Chicago Bears' Defensive Identity
Here's the part that should matter specifically to Bears fans: this defense made its bones last season on chaos and turnovers.
Thirty-three takeaways, most in the league.
That kind of identity demands linebackers who can do more than just stack the pile. Dennis Allen needs guys who close fast, hold up against tight ends and backs in space, and make plays on the ball.
Bush fits that description better than most of the names Chicago could have chased.
Bush's Coverage Grade Is the Hidden Key for Chicago's Defense
The coverage piece is what really stands out in today's NFL.
Offensive coordinators love targeting linebackers. It's practically a cheat code. Bush's 80.4 coverage grade — fourth among all linebackers per PFF — says he's not a liability out there. He's actually a weapon.
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For a defense that wants to keep pressing and attacking, that matters on every single snap.
Devin Bush's Contract Is One of the Best Values in the 2025 NFL Free Agency Class
Chicago signed Devin Bush to a $10 million-per-year contract. That's tied for 17th among NFL linebackers.
The Bears are paying mid-pack money for a guy who graded out in the top five at his position.
In a league where the salary cap is always tightening the screws, that kind of value is genuinely hard to find. It's the difference between a team that can keep adding pieces and one that's already mortgaged the future chasing headlines.
What Devin Bush Means for the Bears' 2026 Season
The offseason isn't over, and there are bigger stories still developing as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. But this one deserves more attention than it's getting.
Bush brings proven production, a scheme fit that's almost too clean, and a contract that gives the Bears room to keep building.
Sometimes the move that doesn't get much buzz is exactly the move a contender needs. The Bears are a contender, and Bush is exactly the kind of player that can put their defense over the top.
