CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 offseason at a crossroads. While the league-wide focus is on a depleted offense with no clear answer at quarterback or wide receiver, a looming crisis on the defensive side of the ball has forced the front office to shift its focus. Following a career year that saw him rack up 125 tackles and two defensive touchdowns, linebacker Devin Bush has officially become the team’s most vital free agent to retain.
The JOK Factor: A Career in Jeopardy
The urgency to re-sign Bush isn’t just about his production; it’s about a sudden, staggering void in the roster. Multiple reports out of Cleveland.com indicate that Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is “doubtful at best” to ever return to the NFL. JOK, who missed the entire 2025 season after a violent collision with Derrick Henry in late 2024, leaves a hole in the heart of a defense that new coordinator Mike Rutenberg is desperate to keep intact.
With JOK sidelined, Bush didn’t just fill a gap; he owned it. Playing on a one-year, $3.25 million prove-it deal, Bush proved he still has the first-round pedigree that made him the 10th overall pick in 2019. He teamed up with rookie sensation Carson Schwesinger—the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year who led the team with 156 tackles—to form the league’s most surprising linebacker duo. But with Schwesinger recovering from a quad injury that ended his season on IR, the Browns cannot afford to let Bush walk out the door.
The Price of a Breakout
Success comes with a hefty receipt. Spotrac currently projects Bush’s market value at roughly $8.9 million per year, likely on a three-year deal in the $26 million to $30 million range. For a Browns team currently grappling with Deshaun Watson’s historic $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, finding that cash requires surgical precision. General Manager Andrew Berry has roughly $3.2 million in effective cap space right now, meaning restructures for veterans like Myles Garrett or Denzel Ward are almost certainly on the horizon to facilitate a Bush extension.
“Devin was the heartbeat of that room when we lost JOK. He didn’t just play; he led. In this league, you don’t let guys with that kind of instinct and suddenness just walk into free agency. He’s a priority, period.”
— Mike Rutenberg, Browns Defensive Coordinator
What’s Next: The Rosenhaus Factor
Negotiations won’t be easy. Bush is represented by Drew Rosenhaus, a man famous for smelling leverage from a mile away. With the Browns’ depth chart looking thin behind Schwesinger and the veteran Jordan Hicks nearing the end of his career, Bush holds all the cards. If Cleveland fails to reach an agreement before the legal tampering period begins in March, a bidding war could quickly price the Browns out of their own breakout star.
The Browns defense finished 2025 ranked fourth in yards allowed and set a franchise record with 53 sacks. To maintain that level under Rutenberg, keeping Bush isn’t just a “want”—it’s a survival tactic for 2026.
