Steelers rumor roundup: Day one of free agent tampering

Bud Dupree getting a lot of calls from teams

It never seemed likely that the Steelers could actually keep the dynamic duo of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree intact. There is not enough money for that to happen in the real world so Dupree will be departing for a mound of cash somewhere else. He is coming off an ACL tear that ended his season in December but before that, he had another great season. He played on the franchise tag last year in Pittsburgh and many saw the writing on the wall for what would be coming for the former first-round choice out of Kentucky. It was a one-year deal that allowed the team to keep him for one last ride and nothing more. The cap situation in Pittsburgh does not allow for a player like Dupree to stay as there will be other players needing deals now and in the future.

He is coming off a season-ending injury but that is not scaring off suitors in free agency. It is being reported by Ian Rapoport that Dupree will be getting paid handsomely and that injury has not worried other teams around the league. That news is just saying that he is definitely not coming back to the Steelers as other teams have way more cap space and money to throw the edge-rushers way.

Update: Dupree signed a 5-year $85 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.