Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Burning questions for the 2020 season
By Samuel Teets
4. Who is Bud Dupree?
The Steelers used the 22nd overall pick on Bud Dupree in the 2015 NFL Draft. At Kentucky, Dupree served as a full-time contributor for three seasons, and he produced 226 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 23 sacks during those years. However, Pittsburgh reached by taking Dupree with the 22nd pick.
As a rookie, Dupree made five starts, recording four sacks. He missed the first nine games of Pittsburgh’s schedule the following season as he recovered from surgery on a torn core muscle. After the two disappointing seasons, Dupree finally took over as a full-time starter in 2017.
Unfortunately, Dupree never delivered on the promise and praise scouts had for him going into the 2015 draft. Even with all of his physical potential, he never became a consistent option as a pass-rusher. However, Dupree changed the narrative last season.
In the fifth and final year of his rookie deal, Dupree set career-highs with four forced fumbles, 68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits. He joined All-Pros Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt as they elevated Pittsburgh’s defense to its third consecutive sack title. The team’s defense held everything together as the offense floundered.
With Dupree’s rookie deal at an end, the Steelers franchise-tagged the Kentucky product. He’ll make roughly $15.828 million on the one-year deal. Now, the team gets to see if Dupree can become a consistent contributor, or if his breakout campaign was a fluke.