2. Devin Bush, LB
Okay, so I’ll be the first to admit that including a rookie on a list of this nature is a bit of a cheat in the grand scheme of things. After all, if a rookie plays well at all, they would have to be considered a breakout player considering that they were playing at the collegiate level in the previous season. With that said, the impact that 10th overall pick Devin Bush could have as a Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker warrants his inclusion.
Prior to his catastrophic injury, Ryan Shazier had the makings of a superstar linebacker for Pittsburgh with the athletic tools to both patrol the middle of the field and cover tremendously when asked to drop back. Since he was taken off the field, however, the Steelers have lacked a true alpha dog and, really a player even remotely near Shazier’s caliber to come in.
Now, asking a rookie linebacker to come in and be Ryan Shazier is a bit unfair. Having said that, Bush seems undoubtedly capable of being a Day 1 starter for the Steelers at the position and dramatically changing the defense as a whole. His speed and athletic tools should shore up both coverage deficiencies in the passing game in addition to helping make plays out in the flats.
Will there be some growing pains for Bush? Sure — he’s a rookie that is going to be experiencing a large leap in level of competition. Even still, with his talent and the severity of the need in the Pittsburgh defense, the Michigan product should come in immediately and make the Steelers unit noticeably more effective.