4 free agent pass rushers Steelers could have had instead of Bud Dupree
By Tommy Jaggi
Vic Beasley
Like Robert Quinn, Vic Beasley isn’t an edge defender who is known for his ability to shut down the run game, and he can be a liability in this area at times. However, Beasley has some other traits that would have made him a great fit in Pittsburgh.
Vic Beasley was drafted ahead of Bud Dupree back in 2015, and it wasn’t hard to see why at the time. Coming out of college, he drew some comparisons to Von Miller for his elite speed and dip around the edge. In his second NFL season, Beasley earned first-team All-Pro honors with 15.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles on the season.
Though he hasn’t been as good since his 2016 season, Beasley still earned 8.0 sacks last year despite playing just 73 percent of defensive snaps. Beasley isn’t quite the same level of player as Dupree overall, but he signed with the Titans for just $9.5 million this offseason – a fraction of what Dupree will earn in 2020.
Next. . dark
Perhaps Dupree will take another leap forward and prove that he was worth the money the Steelers gave him on the franchise tag. However, if he doesn’t, we will all be wondering why Pittsburgh didn’t try to go after one of these pass rushers instead.