Outside linebacker Bud Dupree will not hit the open market. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have used the franchise tag to retain their homegrown pass-rusher for at least one more season. Dupree spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bud Dupree Receives Franchise Tag From Pittsburgh Steelers
Bud Dupree had the best season of his career in a contract year. The fifth-year player started all 16 games for the first time in his career, playing over 90 percent of the snaps in 2019. Dupree recorded 68 combined tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 16 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks in 2019 for the Steelers’ highly-rated defense. Dupree set career highs in forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, combined tackles, solo tackles, assists, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, and sacks. The 11.5 sacks he had in 2019 were as many as he had in 2017 and 2018 combined.
Pittsburgh’s defense last season had a lot to do with Dupree’s resurgence. Dupree formed a nightmarish partnership with fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt. The addition of Mark Barron, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and rookie Devin Bush helped focus Dupree more on getting to the quarterback. Freed up from coverage responsibilities led to the best season in his five-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His career numbers currently stand at 200 combined tackles, 146 solo tackles, 50 quarterback hits, 46 tackles for loss, and 31.5 sacks. He has played outside linebacker and defensive end throughout his career in Pittsburgh’s multiple 3-4 defense.
Dupree was a three-star recruit from Wilkinson County High School in Irwinton, Georgia. He was a two-way player and was named to the first-team all-state in Georgia. While at the University of Kentucky, Dupree was a stand-out from the beginning. He recorded 247 tackles and 24 sacks in his four years in college. He was also a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior in 2014. All of that culminated in Dupree being a first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, with the Steelers taking him 22nd overall.
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