This much is certain: Bud Dupree will play for the Steelers in 2020.
His future in Pittsburgh beyond this season is anything but certain at this point.
The Steelers and Dupree had until 4 p.m. Wednesday to come to terms on a long-term contract but, as expected, were unable to do so, meaning the outside linebacker will play the season under terms of the franchise tag he signed in April. The Steelers tagged Dupree in mid-March.
Under those terms, the allotted salary for outside linebackers is $15.82 million.
The Steelers are $5.74 million under the $198.2 million salary cap for the 2020 season. Placing the franchise tag on Dupree was one of the few options to keep him in-house for the season given the team's tight cap situation, plus Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin and Art Rooney II said during the offseason that keeping Dupree was a priority. Colbert said in February at the NFL Combine that he wants Dupree to finish his career with the Steelers.
And why not?
A first-round draft pick in 2015 from the University of Kentucky, Dupree blossomed in his fifth season. He finished 2019 with 11.5 sacks (tied for ninth in the NFL), 16 tackles for loss (fifth), four forced fumbles (fifth), 17 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries. His 68 tackles were a career-high as were his sacks, forced fumbles and tackles for loss.
Bud is NOT your buddy!@Bud_Dupree pic.twitter.com/LeMhd6DskN
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 1, 2019
Dupree teamed with fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt to form one of the league's most disruptive defensive pairings, combining for 26 of the Steelers' league-leading 54 sacks.
For his career, Dupree has 31.5 sacks and played in 70 games, making 55 starts.
While a deal would have kept Dupree with the Steelers beyond 2020 and likely lowered his cap hit, there is a potential issue yet to be resolved.
Dupree last week filed a grievance with the NFL over his playing position.
In the grievance, Dupree suggests he is more of a defensive end than an outside linebacker. The difference is significant because the franchise tag for defensive ends is $17.788 million, an almost $2 million increase over the outside linebacker tag allotment.
The Buccaneers' Shaq Barrett, who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks last season, filed a grievance that made the same argument. The Ravens settled a similar case with outside linebacker Matthew Judon, bumping his salary up to $16.8 million.
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