The Steelers have a looming decision to make about whether or not to resign Bud Dupree. So should the Steelers resign Dupree or not? Let’s offer some arguments for and against.
When the Steelers drafted Bud Dupree with the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, I really did not know much about him. I had watched Kentucky games in 2015 but wasn’t necessarily focused on his play. Frankly, once we drafted him, all I was concerned with was how he would play as a member of the Steelers.
According to the official website of the Steelers, Dupree’s career stats are as follows: 64 games played, 49 games started, 154 total tackles, 26 sacks, and 1 INT. What’s interesting to me is that through Dupree’s first five seasons, he averaged 4 sacks per season. So far, through 10 games, Dupree has notched 6 sacks, averaging .6 sacks per game.
If Dupree maintains the pace on which he is currently, he will finish the 2019 season with 9.6 sacks, which would be a career-best total. It would be both fortunate and unfortunate if Dupree tallied a career-best in sacks. I say that because it would be simultaneously an advantageous and disadvantageous situation for the Steelers.
With Dupree’s pending free agency, we do have a decision to make regarding his future with the team. Arguments can be made for resigning him; arguments can be made against resigning him. Whatever the Steelers elect to do with Dupree, there will be fans who would be ‘all-in,’ so to speak, and there will be fans who will lament the signing.
Let’s take a look at three reasons why the Steelers should resign Dupree.