What a Steelers contract extension for Bud Dupree could look like

The Contract

Everything above considered, a realistic contract for Dupree would look like the following:

Bud Dupree signs a 5 year, $92.5-million-dollar contract ($18.5 million AAV) with a $25 million dollar signing bonus.

Year 1: 6 million base salary, $5 million prorated bonus, $11 million dollar cap hit.

Year 2: 9 million base salary, $5 million prorated bonus, $14 million dollar cap hit

Year 3: 12 million base salary, $5 million prorated bonus, $17 million dollar cap hit

Year 4: 17 million base salary, $5 million prorated bonus, $22 million dollar cap hit

Year 5: 23.5 million base salary, $5 million prorated bonus, $28.5 million dollar cap hit

Analysis

This seems about as fair of a deal for both sides as one could get. On the Steelers end, they save over five million on the cap this year, as well as having a realistic out on his contract by year three (cap savings of two million after year three). In Dupree’s camp, he takes home $31 million in his first year and $40 million in his first two years.

Considering the Steeler’s tendency to honor contracts, he would likely see at least year three and four assuming he doesn’t fall off similar to how Lamar Woodly did after his extension. While fans may look at those last two years hits in shock as they are both over $20 million, factors such as a higher salary cap, Roethlisberger likely being retired, and the fact Dupree could be a candidate for an extension at that time make those hits more reasonable.

As of now, I believe this contract best suits all sides in Pittsburgh. It keeps a young promising player around, keeps the superb defense mostly intact for next year, and it avoids the franchise tag, which opens up additional cap this year for other depth moves at different positions on the team.