A week from today, the Pittsburgh Steelers will finally be on the clock in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Who will they take? Nobody knows for certain, even general manager Kevin Colbert.
Two things Colbert knew for certain in the 2019 draft was that he wanted linebacker Devin Bush and he wouldn’t fall to No. 20.
In a bold trade-up move, Colbert made it so. Terms of the transaction were steep, however.
The move to select Bush at No. 10 is the reason why Pittsburgh doesn’t have a third-round pick this year. The Steelers, who held the No. 20 pick, swapped first-round slots with the Denver Broncos and gave up their second-round pick.
The Steelers desperately needed a versatile, instinctive, hard-hitting LB to fill the shoes of Ryan Shazier and despite the extreme investment, it needed to be done.
The Steelers usually play the draft more conservatively — only twice had they traded up in the first round. They last did so in 2006 with wide receiver Santonio Holmes at No. 25 and in 2003 with safety Troy Polamalu at No. 16.
It had been 19 years since the Steelers drafted a player that high. In 2000, the Steelers selected wide receiver Plaxico Burress at No. 8 overall.
Colbert felt confident relinquishing the Steelers’ second-round pick because they had a high third-round pick (No. 66), which they acquired in the trade of wide receiver Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders.
During Bush’s three-year career at Michigan, he recorded 172 tackles (18.5 for loss), 10 sacks, 11 passes defended, and one interception. He was named the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
As a rookie, Bush compiled 109 tackles (nine for loss), one sack, one forced fumble and four fumble recoveries (one for a TD). He also had two INTs and four passes defended.
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