Deon

Bush

No real surprises here after the Chiefs emerged from their playoff bye mostly healthy. Kansas City starts its hunt for a three-peat at home against the Texans in the Divisional Round.

The 2023 season was a turbulent one for Bush. He was cut at the end of training camp and signed to the Chiefs practice squad ahead of Week 1. He only appeared in six regular season games, one of which was a meaningless affair with the Chargers. Bush was back to playing a sizable role on special teams by the playoffs and came up big on defense when it mattered most. Despite playing just three defensive snaps in the AFC Championship, Bush picked off Lamar Jackson in the fourth quarter. He will remain a special teams ace in 2024 and could see a few more reps on defense as well.

Bush in 2022 functioned mostly as a special teams player for Kansas City. The former fourth round pick played six seasons for the Bears before coming to the Chiefs last offseason. He’ll stick around as a special teams mainstay in 2023.

The contract terms are not yet known. Bush has served primarily as a special teams player since entering the league in 2016, as a fourth-round pick by the Bears. However, in 2021, he logged a career-high 377 snaps and played 20 or more snaps in six games, including the Bears’ final four games of the year. His primary duties in Kansas City will likely be on special teams, but Bush will also provide defensive depth for the Chiefs.

Bush has been more of a special teamer than defensive player, but his role may change a bit this season if free agent Tashaun Gipson doesn’t re-sign. Chicago will continue running their two-high safety defense despite changing defensive coordinators. Bush was a fourth-rounder in 2016.

Jaylon Johnson and Buster Skrine are both starters while Bush mixes in occasionally. He’s mostly a special teamer. Not having two starting corners against the Vikings receivers is poor timing.

Perhaps Bush fills a void with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix officially signed in Dallas, but the former will likely just land on special teams out of camp. The 2016 fourth-rounder played a career-low 58 defensive snaps in 2019.

After the Bears released Antrel Rolle on Monday, Chicago has an opening next to second-year FS Adrian Amos. Bush started 32 games at Miami, but wasn’t a difference maker and is about a league-average athlete. He’ll compete with Harold Jones-Quarterly, Omar Bolden, and fellow rookie DeAndre Houston-Carson.

Bush (6'0/199) made 32 starts in the Hurricanes’ secondary, earning third-team All-ACC honors as a senior and finishing his career with nine forced fumbles and four INTs. Bush showed okay-not-great athleticism at the Combine, running 4.64 with a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump. Bush’s biggest flaw is his lack of hip fluidity, which will limit him to special teams and/or a box safety role if he eventually makes a run at snaps. He’s a bit of a reach in the fourth rounder.