Nobody paid much attention when the Los Angeles Chargers signed edge defender Bud Dupree in the offseason, but his impressive performance could signal a midseason trade. Signed to a measly two-year, $6 million deal, the former first-round pick needed to prove that he could still play following a disappointing stint with the Tennessee Titans. While he accumulated a six-sack season in 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons, teams seemingly didn’t believe he could recapture that form in 2024. So far, Dupree has proven the doubters wrong, playing a pivotal role on one of the league’s better defenses.
Through four games, Bud Dupree has recorded two sacks, six tackles, two tackles-for-loss, two quarterback hits, and one interception while primarily playing second-fiddle to stars Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. Both sacks came in place of an injured Bosa, which shows he could earn a larger role as the season progresses. The only question is whether that role will be with the Chargers. At 2-2 with an injured Justin Herbert, Los Angeles is already 2.5 games back in the race for the division and could trade Bud Dupree if the season continues to go south. Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox believes Dupree to be the biggest hidden gem on the Chargers, so he could fetch a decent return from a team like the Baltimore Ravens or New Orleans Saints.
Saints, Ravens Could Trade For Bud Dupree
After stumbling out of the gate, the Baltimore Ravens re-established themselves as one of the NFL’s elite teams with three consecutive wins against the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals. Now tied for the division lead, the Ravens are back in the playoff picture and firmly established as one of the best teams in the league. However, while they are talented, they’re not as good as they were a year ago. They could still use another pass rusher, and a Bud Dupree trade could make sense for all sides.
Kyle Van Noy continued to defy Father Time with six sacks and a league-best eight tackles-for-loss through five games, but the 33-year-old veteran can’t possibly keep this up forever. Former first-round pick Odafe Oweh is making the most of his opportunities without Jadeveon Clowney, but this team needs a third edge rusher to step up on this defense. With David Ojabo not doing much of anything, a Bud Dupree trade could add some life to this pass rush. Baltimore loves rotating their defensive linemen to keep them fresh throughout the season, and Dupree’s resurgence away from Tennessee shows he still has something left in his tank.
More Defensive Reinforcements
The New Orleans Saints are probably the best 2-3 team in the league. While they thoroughly lost their Monday Night Football matchup to the Kansas City Chiefs, they are a few unfortunate bounces away from being 4-1. While the offensive line was the primary focus, their defense didn’t hold up their end against Kansas City’s high-octane offense. Despite missing the injured Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, Mahomes didn’t throw a single pass into a tight window. Mahomes is elite and Andy Reid is a genius, but this is embarrassing for a team that’s supposed to pride itself on its secondary. With reliable starters throughout the back half of the defense, perhaps a Bud Dupree trade could add a needed push to the pass rush.
Carl Granderson is in the midst of yet another strong season, but the rest of the pass rush could use a boost. Free agent signee Chase Young has just two sacks on the season, while veteran Cameron Jordan looks like he’s at the end of the road. This team is still alive in the playoff race, but they’ll need to act now to dig themselves out of their current predicament. Seeing as salary cap space is at a premium, New Orleans could trade for the cheap Bud Dupree as a way to bolster their pass rush down the stretch.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
