Tag: Bud Dupree

Report: Steelers have ‘preliminary interest’ in signing Bud Dupree

The Steelers reportedly have interest in reuniting with Bud Dupree.

With the Tennessee Titans releasing Bud Dupree on Wednesday, the veteran outside linebacker is reportedly drawing interest from his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, the Steelers have “preliminary interest” in Dupree, but only if “he’s healthy,” which has been an issue for Dupree the last few years.

While definitely a difference-maker when on the field, Dupree missed a total of 12 games over two seasons due to knee and hip issues, which was no doubt a factor in the Titans releasing him.

Dupree posted 19.5 sacks with the Steelers in the two seasons before coming to Tennessee on a five-year, $82.5 million deal. For the Titans, Dupree had just seven sacks in 22 contests over two years.

On top of his injury issues and overall lack of production, Dupree’s $20.2 million cap hit was also a reason Tennessee cut ties. The move saves the Titans $9.35 million in cap space, but adds a dead-cap charge of $10.85 million.

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Titans officially released Bud Dupree on Wednesday

The Titans officially released OLB Bud Dupree on Wednesday.

The Tennessee Titans officially parted ways with outside linebacker Bud Dupree on Wednesday, a move that has been expected for awhile now.

According to the league’s transactions wire, Dupree was cut with a pre-June 1 designation, meaning the Titans will save $9.35 million against the cap, while incurring a dead-cap charge of $10.85 million.

And so ends Dupree’s tenure in Nashville, which was nothing short of a disappointment.

Dupree was a difference-maker for the Titans when on the field, the problem was he couldn’t stay on it, missing 12 games over his two seasons in Tennessee due to injury.

Tennessee has already made a move to help replace him, with the signing of former Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher, Arden Key. He joins a group that includes Harold Landry and Rashad Weaver at outside linebacker.

The best way to follow along with everything the Titans are doing is to check out our free agency tracker, which is updated regularly.

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5 potential Jaguars free agent targets to replace Arden Key

Arden Key is set to join the Titans, but there are a handful of veteran edge rushers who could fill his shoes in Jacksonville.

The legal tampering period wasn’t fun for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While the team dished out huge contracts left and right during the 2022 offseason, this year it watched from the sideline as other teams made big moves Monday and Tuesday. The Jaguars reportedly hoped to retain a few players due to hit the open market, but were unable to keep offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor or pass rusher Arden Key from cashing in elsewhere.

Taylor will leave to join the Kansas City Chiefs on a four-year, $80 million deal and Key is leaving to join the Jaguars’ division rival, the Tennessee Titans, on a three-year, $21 million deal.

It’d be way too expensive for the Jaguars to sign another starting right tackle to fill in for Taylor, but finding a new rotational pass rusher at a decent price is doable.

Here are five options who could give the Jacksonville pass rush a boost:

Titans releasing Bud Dupree pre-June 1 a sign team isn’t rebuilding

The Titans reportedly won’t use the post-June 1 designation when cutting Bud Dupree.

As the Tennessee Titans announced their first group of cuts, one player who was expected to be part of that group, outside linebacker Bud Dupree, was noticeably absent from it.

That raised some eyebrows at the time and led to speculation the Titans might take another route, but it was confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Dupree would indeed be cut.

The reason the Titans weren’t able to make the release official along with the others is the fact that Dupree’s contract has a guarantee that forces Tennessee to wait until March 15, the start of the new league year.

Upon learning of Dupree’s expected cut, the question then became: would the Titans use the post-June 1 designation and wait for the savings, which would have been more? Or, would they release him pre-June 1, which would save less but enable the team to use the money right away?

Cutting Dupree pre-June 1 saves the Titans $9.35 million, while a post-June 1 cut would net a savings of $15.75 million, a significant difference of $6.4 million.

Well, we have our answer to that, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that not only was the salary guarantee the reason he hadn’t been cut yet, but that Dupree would indeed get the boot pre-June 1.

And that’s a significant fact in all this.

Had the Titans cut Dupree with a post-June 1 designation, the money saved wouldn’t have been available until then, which would be counter to what a team that is retooling needs — and that’s especially true in an offseason in which Tennessee needs every penny.

While nothing can be ruled out, the fact that the Titans opted to make the cut pre-June 1 and have that money at their disposal in time for free agency this year can definitely be taken as a sign that the team isn’t blowing it up.

Once the move is made official, it will save the Titans $9.35 million. Adding those savings to Tennessee’s current cap space situation gives the team around $23 million to work with ahead of free agency.

Some in the national media are already under the assumption that the Titans are in the midst of a rebuild, but it’s important to point out that every cut the Titans have made was expected and likely would have been made no matter the outcome of last season, Dupree included.

Sure, there were rumors that the Titans were shopping Derrick Henry at the NFL Combine, which would be a sign of a rebuild, but there was also a report stating they weren’t shopping him.

Even if you take the Henry rumor completely seriously, there are different ways to interpret it, ranging from the Titans planning on trading one of the best players in franchise history, to Ran Carthon simply doing his due diligence. Chances are, the latter took place.

What we can say for certain is that the Titans opted to save less in order to have more now, which, as of this writing, is the best sign thus far that Tennessee isn’t tearing it all down.

UPDATE

This article was published before the Titans released center Ben Jones, which looks like a move a rebuilding team would make considering he was their best offensive lineman in 2022, and really, for multiple years.

However, just like with Dupree, Jones is a pre-June 1 cut, which aids a retool because, again, the team can use the savings right away as opposed to waiting until June 2 and recouping more money.

Maybe the pre-June 1 decision is the Titans doing Jones a favor by letting him out of a rebuild, while also giving him a chance to sign with a team quicker.

It’s also possible this is simply a cost-cutting measure and a move the Titans are making with a cheaper replacement in mind, like Aaron Brewer.

I don’t think anyone can say definitively what this move signifies for sure, but it does muddy the rebuild or retool waters at least a bit.

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15 free agents the Eagles can sign that don’t count against compensatory picks

We’re looking at 15 players the Philadelphia Eagles can sign in 2023 NFL Free Agency that won’t count against the compensatory pick formula

The NFL’s new league is less than a week away, and with the legal tampering period scheduled to start on Monday, Philadelphia will look to retool on defense, while making cost-effective decisions.

All-Pro quarterback Jalen Hurts and his contract is the biggest concern this offseason, but the Eagles will also need to navigate 19 looming free agents and the likelihood that they’ll lose C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Javon Hargrave and James Bradberry.

GM Howie Roseman has made it clear that he’s prepared to lose several key starters and he’ll retool via the draft with a handful of 2024 compensatory picks.

The formula is simple in nature.

If you lose more unrestricted free agents than you sign, you are eligible for that many compensatory selections. What round they come is determined by how big their contract is.

Roseman and other general managers can take advantage of the rule by signing players released before their contract expires. Those players don’t count toward the formula.

Plenty of players will be available to sign this offseason that can both help the team and not count against the formula.

Here are 15 players Philadelphia could sign that wouldn’t count against 2024 compensatory picks.

Grade for Titans’ expected release of OLB Bud Dupree

A grade for the Titans’ expected release of OLB Bud Dupree.

While the move has yet to be made official, the Tennessee Titans are reportedly expected to release outside linebacker Bud Dupree, ending his two-year stint in Nashville.

Dupree was signed to a five-year, $82.5 million contract in 2021 with the hope he could help revive a Tennessee pass-rush that was among the NFL’s worst the year prior.

And, in his two years with the team, Tennessee’s pass-rush did indeed improve, and to nearly elite levels.

However, Dupree didn’t have a ton to do with that. Granted, he was clearly a difference-maker when on the field, but the problem was he couldn’t actually stay on the field.

In his first season back from a torn ACL, Dupree experienced a setback that forced him to miss some games and not be himself overall. In Year 2, a hip injury was the bane of Dupree’s existence, forcing him to miss six games for the second-straight year.

When it was all said and done, the Titans got 22 games and seven sacks out of their priciest free-agent acquisition of the 2021 offseason.

Cutting Dupree will save the Titans $9.35 million, while also leading to a dead-cap charge of $10.85 million. Not a massive chunk of change, but significant for a Tennessee team we think is retooling.

Tennessee could’ve saved more with a post-June 1 designation, but there’s been no word that’s the case. The downside of doing that is the Titans couldn’t use the money until June, well after free agency.

I had some hesitation about letting Dupree go because we simply don’t know what to expect out of Harold Landry in his first year back from a torn ACL, or Rashad Weaver, who still needs to prove himself as a full-time starter.

I would’ve been fine with bringing Dupree back at a discounted rate, and I’d assume that’s something Tennessee explored with no success. One thing that surprised me was the fact that the Titans weren’t able to unload him via trade, as he wouldn’t cost the acquiring team that much.

Assuming Dupree wasn’t open to taking a pay cut and staying in Nashville, the Titans made the move they had to make. Now, edge rusher becomes a bigger priority than it was.

Grade: A

Note: Grades go from “A” to “F” with no “+” or “-” marks.

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Steelers, Titans fans react to expected release of Bud Dupree

After hearing the news that Bud Dupree is expected to be released from the Titans, there were plenty of Steelers fans open to a reunion with the veteran edge rusher.

After a bit of a delay, the Tennessee Titans are doing what most expected them to this offseason, as the team is reportedly set to release outside linebacker, Bud Dupree.

Dupree inked a massive, five-year, $82.5 million deal in 2021 but never lived up to the contract.

While the Titans’ defense was noticeably better when he was on the field, the veteran defender wasn’t able to stay on it thanks to injuries that led to him missing 12 games, and he exited multiple others early over two seasons.

For their investment, the Titans got 35 tackles, seven sacks, 17 QB hits, one pass defensed, two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles in 22 games.

With the move to release Dupree, the Titans will save $9.35 million in 2023, but will also incur a dead-cap charge of $10.85 million if done before June 1.

There is potential for Tennessee to save more if the team designates him a post-June 1 cut, which would increase the savings to $15.75 million and decrease the dead-cap hit to $4.45 million.

However, the Titans would not be able to use that money until June and well after free agency has wrapped up. Of course, if Tennessee is in rebuild mode, waiting for that money becomes more reasonable.

After learning of his release, there was no shortage of Steelers fans interested in a reunion with the 30-year-old pass-rusher.

Bud Dupree found out he was being released by Titans from Twitter

In a now-deleted tweet, Bud Dupree said he found out he was being released by the Titans from Twitter.

On Monday morning, news broke that the Tennessee Titans were expected to release outside linebacker Bud Dupree, a move that was considered highly likely going into the offseason.

Like many people, we first saw the news on Twitter, which is typically where news breaks these days — but you wouldn’t expect Dupree to be in that same boat.

However, that was apparently the case. In a now-deleted tweet, Dupree stated he found out he was being released on Twitter.

“Damn, I found out on Twitter,” Dupree wrote.

One would think the Titans would notify the player first, but it looks like things might’ve gotten leaked before they had the chance.

Whatever the case may be, the move to cut Dupree will save the Titans $9.35 million in 2023, while also costing a dead-cap hit of $10.85 million if done before June 1.

If done post-June 1, Tennessee would save $15.75 million and decrease the dead-cap hit to $4.45 million but wouldn’t be able to use that money until June, which is a big deal if the Titans are retooling and not rebuilding.

Dupree was a difference-maker when healthy and on the field, but his injury issues and overall lack of production was just too much to ignore for that price.

Now, the Titans are facing a situation in which outside linebacker has become a much bigger priority with Harold Landry coming off a torn ACL, and with Rashad Weaver not being a sure thing, either.

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Report: Titans expected to release OLB Bud Dupree

The Titans are reportedly expected to release OLB Bud Dupree.

The Tennessee Titans are reportedly set to release outside linebacker Bud Dupree, which will free up some much-needed cap space in 2023.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans are expected to release the 30-year-old pass-rusher, who was set to account for a massive cap hit of $20.2 million in 2023.

Parting ways with Dupree, who signed a huge five-year, $82.5 million deal in 2021, will save Tennessee $9.35 million against the salary cap, while also incurring a dead-cap hit of $10.85 million if it’s pre-June 1.

However, Tennessee also has the option to cut him with a post-June 1 tag, which would save $15.75 million and decrease the dead-cap hit to $4.45 million.

The down side there is Tennessee wouldn’t be able to use that money until June, which is a big issue if Titans general manager Ran Carthon plans on retooling and not rebuilding.

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It has been quite the roller coaster on the Dupree front in recent days. While the expectation has been Tennessee would part ways with him, ESPN’s Turron Davenport recently stated it was “very possible” he’d stay.

After signing his big deal in 2021, Dupree has proven to be a difference-maker when healthy but has been riddled with injury issues, leading to Dupree missing 12 games (and exiting others early) in two years.

While cutting Dupree is certainly understandable, it does leave the Titans in a tough spot at outside linebacker, as Harold Landry and Rashad Weaver are the only notable players left at the position, and both are question marks.

Landry is coming off a torn ACL and may not be himself in his first year back, and the jury is still out on Weaver as a starter. Those are the reasons why I gave credence to the idea that the Titans might keep Dupree.

It’s a bit surprising the Titans couldn’t find a trade partner for Dupree before releasing him. After all, the acquiring team would only have to pay the $9.35 million, which isn’t a bad price for the veteran defender.

Whatever the case may be, the Titans addressing the outside linebacker position this offseason has now become a bigger priority.

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Titans keeping OLB Bud Dupree ‘very possible’

Could the Titans keep Bud Dupree in 2023? ESPN’s Turron Davenport believes it’s “very possible.”

Two of the biggest topics of conversation this offseason are quarterback Ryan Tannehill and outside linebacker Bud Dupree, both of whom are candidates for the team to part ways with.

Dupree has a better chance to be let go thanks to his injury issues the past few years and a huge cap hit, but it’s possible both are in new homes in 2023.

ESPN’s Turron Davenport recently said on “Stillman and Company” that he could see both returning next year. He says the vibe he’s getting is that Tannehill stays, and he said it’s “very possible” Dupree sticks around, also.

With Dupree, Davenport did note that people in the building believe he does make a difference when on the field, but the team has to weigh how much they value what he brings with the veteran’s massive $20.2 million cap hit.

Also included in the clip is Davenport reporting the Titans “really like” C.J. Stroud, who is their top quarterback in this year’s draft. You can check out more on that right here.

Davenport later clarified his words on Tannehill and Dupree, noting that they weren’t a definitive statement.

The Titans keeping Tannehill wouldn’t be a surprise. Dupree, on the other hand, would be a surprise but not a total shocker when you consider the circumstances.

Yes, Dupree accounts for a huge cap hit and doesn’t deserve the money he’ll make after injury issues the past two seasons, but Tennessee would also have to swallow more than half of that $20.2 million ($10.85 million). Dupree’s dead-cap hit in 2024 is more reasonable, coming in at $6.4 million.

Adding to that, Tennessee would be very thin at the position, and those that remain will be big question marks, as the jury is still out on Rashad Weaver as a starter and Harold Landry is coming off a torn ACL and may not be himself in his first year back.

Tennessee could add a pass-rusher in free agency and/or the draft, but they’d be paying said free agent on top of Dupree’s dead money, which might work out to around the same price or more as his cap hit, and a draft pick may not help right away, if at all.

If the Titans end up deciding not to keep Dupree, he should have value on the trade market. He would only cost the acquiring team $9.35 million in 2023, which isn’t a bad price at all.

Dupree is capable of being a difference-maker when on the field and I could see why Tennessee might consider keeping him given the current situation at the position, but his inability to stay healthy and price tag will ultimately lead to him playing elsewhere in 2023.

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