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Should the Steelers hold a tryout for Bud Dupree’s job?

By Tommy Jaggi

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Royce Freeman #28 of the Denver Broncos attempts to elude Anthony Chickillo #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 25: Royce Freeman #28 of the Denver Broncos attempts to elude Anthony Chickillo #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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The Steelers made Bud Dupree a very rich man this offseason. To the surprise of many, Pittsburgh elected to pick up the 5th year option of the underwhelming pass rusher. Regardless of their decision to do this, Dupree has produced so little in his first four years that it begs the question: Should the Steelers hold a tryout for the starting job at right outside linebacker?

Bud Dupree has produced just 20.0 sacks in 54 games for the Steelers. Pro Football Focus does not think highly of the former 1st round pick, as he was PFF’s 78th ranked edge defender with an overall grade of 60.5. For a player who had 868 snaps on defense in 2018 (83.1 percent), his play left a lot to be desired.

At the same time, primary backup, Anthony Chickillo, was more impressive in limited play – ranking 40th on Pro Football Focus’s list of edge defenders. Likewise, undrafted rookie, Ola Adeniyi (though he didn’t play enough snaps to earn a rank), offered up an impressive overall grade of 77.7 last year.

So why did the Steelers give Bud Dupree the 5th year option?

I can’t, in my right mind, come up with an answer for that. Apparently, the Steelers are higher on him than we are. I’ll admit that Bud has had some nice flashes, but they are few and far between.

Despite his $9.2M price tag in 2019, I don’t think the Steelers should automatically hand the starting role at right edge over to Dupree this year. Ola Adeniyi was the Steelers’ most impressive player during preseason a year ago. At just 21 years old still, he offers more upside as a pass rusher than the 26-year old Dupree.

If Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert haven’t figured out who Bud Dupree is by now, I’m not sure if they ever will. Though you can defend Dupree however you want, the truth is I don’t know of many players who couldn’t get 6.0 sacks on nearly 900 defensive snaps.

Related Story. Steelers release Keion Adams: Do they have a plan at Edge?. light

Dupree is what he is: He isn’t terrible, but he also isn’t great. Perhaps it’s the hope that Bud Dupree will finally breakout in year five, or simply that the Steelers don’t want to count another former 1st round pick as a bust. Either way, the Steelers have decided to stick with Dupree in 2019. I just hope they give the backups a fair chance to supplant him.

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