What a Steelers contract extension for Bud Dupree could look like

With Bud Dupree set to hit free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of options to consider with Dupree’s contract status.

With the NFL combine over and the new league year only a few weeks away, it is time for the Steelers to address the elephant in the room: What are they going to do with Bud Dupree? Football Outsiders via ESPN has recently listed not tagging Dupree as their “daring move” for the Steelers offseason, listing his pass-rushing rate as the primary reason to not sign him.

"SIS tracked his hurries and pressures, and his hurry rate of 5.7% in 2019 was actually lower than it had been in any of his previous three seasons. His pressure rate of 10.1% was on par with his 10.0% in 2018 and 11.8% in 2017. The only difference was 11.5 sacks versus his usual five or six."

That being said, all signs currently indicate that the team will at least place the franchise tag on him, which according to Over the Cap, will cost them a hefty estimated $16.3 million in cap space. With cuts and restructures available to help get the team cap compliant, having Dupree play under the tag is realistic. Looking at some of the various other needs the team has though, signing him to a long-term deal would help open the door to either avoid some unwanted cuts or add some other mid-range players in free agency.

To do so, examining what a real deal would look like for Dupree and seeing what his cap hit would be this year (as well as every other year he is under contract) is important. In addition, with the 30 percent deal fully in effect, the numbers in his contract will represent a contract that adheres to those values. While a new CBA may change the numbers on the contract like this, more than likely those numbers wouldn’t shift more than about three million.

Here are the basics of what a new deal would entail: