Wednesday was a whirlwind day for the Kansas City Chiefs, a historic day that literally ushered in a new era of football with the trade that had the entire league talking: the one that sent Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for a handful of draft picks.
Lost in the shuffle of the trade fallout is the fact that the Chiefs actually added someone on Wednesday as well. They signed former Chicago Bears safety Deon Bush to a one-year deal that provides greater quality and quantity in a secondary that needed safety help.
The Chiefs have already signed Justin Reid to a three-year deal to replace Tyrann Mathieu as the starter opposite Juan Thornhill in the team’s base defense, but Dan Sorensen hit free agency as did Armani Watts. That’s three of four primary safeties lost in one spring, so it was vital for the Chiefs to add some experienced help there before the draft.
We asked someone who covers the Chicago Bears to tell us what to expect from new Chiefs safety signing Deon Bush.
What exactly does Bush offer. Last season, Bush was pressed into a starting role after mostly starring on special teams over the years in Chicago. He had 2 interceptions and 5 passes deflected in 2021.
To get a better read on Bush’s game and what Bears fans thought of him, we reached out to Ryan Heckman, Bears writer and site expert for Da Windy City. He told us the following.
“The Chiefs are getting an experienced safety who has been harshly overlooked for a few years now. After the Bears lost Adrian Amos to the Packers, Bush very well could have stepped in and started in my mind.
“For the first couple of seasons, Bush was a valuable backup and special teams guy. The fact that he hadn’t been given a shot by another team for the past couple of years, and has re-signed in Chicago, is surprising to me. He’s someone who looks to finish plays. He’s a hard hitter. He’s also shown a nose for the football at times and has above-average ball skills. He’s a true professional and someone the Chiefs will love having in the locker room.
“I’m not sure what the Chiefs’ safety spot is like other than the recently-signed Justin Reid, but Bush could definitely be given the chance to start next to Reid if they need a starter. If not, he’s a very valuable backup. I’m bummed that the Bears didn’t keep him and finally give him his shot because he truly deserves it.”
The Chiefs play plenty of three-safety looks in sub packages, so Bush will have plenty of playing time next season for the Chiefs. Given how Bears fans feel about his departure, Chiefs fans should feel just as good knowing how much of an upgrade he’s likely to prove over Sorensen in his final season.