The Opening Drive 2/25: NFL Combine Schedule, and Devin Bush Decision Looming
The Browns have to make the right move at linebacker and what is coming from Indy throughout the weekend.
On today’s podcast we spent time breaking down another successful year for the Browns linebacker group. With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s continued absence — without much positive news — the position needed talent to step up to the plate and Devin Bush responded. The former first round pick spent a reserve season in Seattle after his Steelers fallout before landing with the Browns in 2024.
His first year was a limited third linebacker role where he entered the field as the SAM linebacker often against heavy personnel but due to injuries he found more time and played well enough. The team decided to bring him back on a one-year deal in 2025 and when Mohamoud Diabate suffered a preseason injury to door was fully open and Bush thrived. Now the question becomes, due to a very successful season, if this is who Bush is now and his first round talent has found a way or if this past season was a flash in an otherwise uneven career.
As you can see from Pro Football Focus, it will cost the Browns the Browns serious money to solve that unknown. In most off-seasons the deal to get Bush back to Cleveland would be a simple one but with the Browns financial restraints in well-known spots, the team would be well-served to take a step back invest that money in other places offensively. They need too much help on the other side of the ball and particularly the more expensive offensive line roles.
The Browns have found plenty of success under position coach Jason Tarver with journeyman types and this should be something they lean into. Let Tarver develop a younger talent or bring back to life another veteran looking to find their way or extend their career. There’s plenty of proof-of-concept here for the team to lean into. Every penny will matter in order to get this offense moving in the right direction.
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With the combine week rolling in full force I know I often find myself confused about when certain position groups speak to the media, when others are doing private interviews, others are being measured, and when others are testing. I thought sharing this cheat sheet with you would be appreciate for your own reference.
Now all position groups have arrived, and today is the final day we don’t get the measurements or on-field testing. From here until March 2nd it will be an onslaught of data and information we can use to swing the prospects around the big boards and figure out some key pieces on who they are as athletes to match the tape. Love this time of year. We will have plenty of notes covering what we are hearing, even without being on-site. Stay tuned.
Browns Film Breakdown will return soon with some fresh content later today.
I think any Devin Bush analysis has to consider his torn ACL in Pittsburgh after having a very good rookie season. Perhaps working back from that ACL is what took him time to get back to high playing level.
I wonder what kind of comp pick they'd be in line for at that level? Maybe with the likes of Njoku and Teller also moving on it becomes a factor?