4 reasons Steelers Bud Dupree won’t be re-signed after 2020

Future defensive contracts

While in the NFL you have to take your business day by day, the Steelers are likely looking at the future of their defense and seeing dollar signs. Watt will more than likely sign a mega-deal next offseason, one that should make him the highest-paid defender in the league. Behind him, Minkah Fitzpatrick will be looking for a deal next year, and he will certainly be paid as one of the top safeties in the league.

Throw in the usual starters that will require deals at some point and this defense will suddenly be very expensive to maintain. This makes give Dupree a top deal that much harder, as he will add to an already rich group. The Steelers tend to spread their cap hits around far more evenly. If they give deals to Watt, Fitzpatrick, and Dupree, it will severely damage the depth elsewhere on the team.

The only glimmering hope is that Ben Roethlisberger may call it quits soon. Losing your franchise quarterback may be good for your cap space, but it isn’t for keeping your roster competitive. Even then, the team may not want all of that money tied up in the defense. Again, you can argue that thinking that far ahead isn’t a good business move, but the Steelers defense is going to be owed some money sooner than later.