Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: LB Devin Bush

Should the Redskins draft Devin Bush?

Devin Bush is, at the very least, a top thirty prospect, and he falls inside my top fifteen after my evaluation of his film. But if the Redskins were to draft Bush, they’d have to think two things: They’d have to consider linebacker a need, and they’d have to see Bush as one of the best available players.

Bush could be the best available player at No. 15. It’s possible, just like everything else during draft season. But it’s not necessarily likely. A quarterback run before pick No. 15 could very well push top prospects such as Brian Burns, D.K. Metcalf, or even Jonah Williams down the board, and if either of those players are available at the Redskins pick, the choice would be an easy one. And it wouldn’t be Devin Bush.

How the Redskins value Bush ultimately depends on how imperative they view speed as an attribute of their defense. After watching their lack of speed contribute to their defense’s downfall in 2018, the Redskins have to think that it’s important. But they might see Reuben Foster and Shaun Dion Hamilton as players who can provide adequate speed, for far less, in terms of cost.

In a vacuum, Devin Bush is worth the No. 15 pick. His speed and acceleration constitute rare thresholds, and he’s a smart player trending up as he heads into the NFL. But in a league where anything can happen, the Redskins can’t box themselves in at No. 15.