2019 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers after the Steelers pick of Devin Bush

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The Steelers made a bold move trading up in the first round to select Devin Bush, and after they did that there were certainly repercussions.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone and done something no one expected them to — they were aggressive in the 2019 NFL Draft and trade up 10 spots to get the player they coveted. When the team traded with the Denver Broncos and selected Devin Bush, ILB from Michigan, there were repercussions.

With the Steelers making waves with the pick, there are some who could fall on the winners side of the deal, and also some who could fall on the losers end of the docket. Here, in the Winners and Losers column, we examine both sides.

Winners

Devin Bush

This is an obvious choice. Bush was seen as such a hot commodity the Steelers swapped first round picks, their 2019 second round pick and a 2020 third round pick to get him. Talk about a confidence booster. Getting drafted is one thing, but having a team jump up in order to get you is another. The Steelers have a ton of faith in Bush as a potential stud on the inside of the defense.

Steelers Fans

I took over the reigns of this site before Bud Dupree was the team’s first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and every year the fan base has been dumbfounded, or angry, at the teams pick. Dupree was too raw. Artie Burns was a reach. T.J. Watt was a combine phenom and nothing more. Terrell Edmunds would have been available in the 3rd round. Either way, there was always a gripe with the pick. While there are always outliers, the fan base seems very pleased with this pick. This is a first for me, and I’m not really sure how to handle it…

Denver Broncos

If you were a Broncos fan, you should be happy with the team’s decision to trade back. They stayed in the first round, still drafted a player they wanted and also were able garner another second round pick in a draft where plenty of talent remains on the board. Oh, and they also received a 2020 3rd round selection. Pretty nice haul for the Broncos and John Elway.

Losers

Mark Barron

The Steelers picked up Barron in free agency, and the thought was he could be a potential starter, but after the selection of Bush those thoughts have probably diminished. No one is crowning Bush just yet, well, maybe I am, but Barron is suddenly looking like a sub package player and nothing more. Not that he won’t see the field, but it just might not be the role he envisioned when signing on the dotted line. Sounds familiar, right Morgan Burnett?

Jon Bostic

After the Steelers made their pick, many asked which ILB would be the odd man out. Easy…Bostic. Bostic is a player who just doesn’t have the lateral speed and coverage ability to play all three downs in today’s NFL. Therefore, not only could he be outright cut, but he would see very limited snaps if he does make the team.

Cincinnati Bengals

For the second straight year the Steelers traded up in the draft to take a player many had going to the Bengals. Last year it was the Steelers who traded with the Seattle Seahawks to get Mason Rudolph right before the Bengals selected. Many thought the Bengals wanted to take Rudolph as an insurance policy for Andy Dalton. This year, after the Bengals cut Vontaze Burfict, there were many who saw Bush filling Burfict’s shoes as the inside linebacker of the future. Well, not anymore.

Vince Williams

Unlike Bostic, there is little-to-no chance the Steelers cut ties with Williams, not after giving him a new contract last year, but you can expect his time on the field to decrease this season. If Bush lives up to the hype, and I realize that is a big if, he will be an every down linebacker. With Barron being a hybrid safety/linebacker he would be the perfect player to come onto the field as Williams goes to the sideline. Williams is a large part of the Steelers’ defense, but his playing time likely took a big hit Thursday night.