Thursday, an outside linebacker committed to the Pittsburgh Steelers for one year. Friday, the Steelers took an outside linebacker with their second pick of the draft.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the organization is assuming the latter is going to replace the former.
Minutes after the Steelers selected Charlotte edge rusher Alex Highsmith in the third round just before midnight, general manager Kevin Colbert said the team wasn’t ruling out signing veteran Bud Dupree to a multi-year contract.
“We’ve always said it’s always been our intent to try to get Bud signed to long-term deal so he can finish his career here,” Colbert said. “We have a very dynamic (edge-rushing) duo with Bud and T.J. (Watt) and would like to see them end their careers together.”
Unlike the summers of 2017 and 2018, there will be no drama regarding the #Steelers and a player to which they applied the franchise tag. @Bud_Dupreehttps://t.co/QWca7Zu7Zm
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 24, 2020
Dupree signed his $15.8 million franchise-tag tender Thursday after he played out last season making $9.2 million on a fifth-year team option. Dupree responded with career highs in sacks (11 ½) and tackles for loss (16).
The Steelers and Dupree have until a league-imposed July 15 deadline to come to terms on a longer-term contract. Though that seems unlikely, such a move would alleviate Dupree’s sizable 2020 salary-cap hit. It is second-highest on the team to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
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