In mid-March the Steelers made one of their most important moves of free agency when they placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Bud Dupree shortly before free agency even kicked off.
Today, on the first day of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Steelers secured Dupree for the 2020 campaign when he signed his franchise tender.
Dupree had his best season in 2019. He ended the year with a career-high 11.5 sacks, recording at least four sacks in each of his first five seasons with the Steelers for a total of 31 ½ career sacks. Dupree also set a single season high with 16 tackles for a loss in 2019, ranking him tied for fifth in the NFL last season. Dupree also added four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Dupree was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Steelers victory over the Indianapolis Colts last season. Dupree had three tackles, two sacks, three hits on the quarterback and a forced fumble that he recovered.
One of his biggest plays in that Colts came late in the fourth quarter, with just 1:20 to play in the game. The Colts were facing a third-and-1 from the Steelers' 22-yard line and Dupree knocked Marlon Mack for a three-yard loss.
Dupree said making plays last season was all about taking advantage of what was presented to him.
"It's opportunities and also just preparation," stated Dupree. "I took my game to a different level. It's just been different moments where we come together as a unit and make stuff happen on the field and off the field."
He is set to have the second-highest salary-cap hit for the Steelers in 2020, trailing only quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's $23.75 million.
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said at the combine that "we want Bud Dupree to finish his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler."
