Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree signed his franchise tag tender Thursday; just hours before the 2020 NFL Draft begins.
Dupree will be paid $15.8 million for 2020 and become a free agent at the end of the season unless he and the Steelers work out a long-term contract in the offseason.
The timing could very well indicate that the Steelers are looking to unload Dupree and his contract to move into the first round and acquire an additional pick this year or in the 2021 draft.
With little available information on 2020 draft prospects, teams could be clamoring for a player with Dupree’s experience. The LB enjoyed his best season in 2019 with 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
Three franchised edge rushers were traded in 2019, including Khalil Mack, so a move is not out of the realm of possibilities.
“We’ll never say we won’t trade into any given round or trade out of one,” said general manager Kevin Colbert during an April conference call with media. “I think it is highly unlikely that we could come up with any type of package that we could get back in the first round (this year).”
Though Colbert has repeatedly said he wants Dupree to finish his career in Pittsburgh and Dupree has echoed those sentiments, the NFL is a business and the Steelers could get an equally (or more) productive player in the draft at a more affordable price.
Should Dupree remain a Steeler, the current market value for an edge rusher is around $80 million for five years with nearly half guaranteed.
The Steelers made a bold move to select ILB Devin Bush last year and traded their first-round pick this year for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. With a win-now mentality, the organization is no longer being conservative.
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