Kevin Colbert wants Bud Dupree to finish career with Steelers

INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL and its players association agreed to push back the time frame when teams can use the franchise and transition tag by two days, but that change likely means little for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Although teams can begin tagging players Thursday and face a March 12 deadline to use them, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert appears to be willing to wait until the last moment to tag outside linebacker Bud Dupree.

Dupree will become an unrestricted free agent March 18 unless the Steelers tag him or sign him to a long-term contract.

Colbert indicated Tuesday the Steelers will wait until after the NFL Combine before making a decision on Dupree’s status.

“There is so much business that is in the air,” he said. “We’re going to see 330-plus players here in more detail than we’ve known from before. We’ll know a lot about the draft. We’ll learn a lot about free agency. Some players are getting off the market as we speak. That all changes, and this thing is fluid right up until the end.”

In the final season of his rookie contract, Dupree set a career-high with 11.5 sacks, which was tied for ninth in the NFL. His career-high 16 tackles for loss were tied for fourth in the league.

“Bud created a great decision for us because he had a great season,” Colbert said. “That’s exciting. Where we go with that, who knows? He’s getting a feel for what a market may be. We’re getting a feel for where a market may be. We’re getting a feel for what our (salary) cap might be.

“We don’t know, but we would love to have that option available to us. We want Bud Dupree to finish his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler.”

If the Steelers don’t keep Dupree, they could replace him in the draft. Colbert said the outside linebacker contingent is among the deepest positions in the 2020 class.

“It’s an unusual group,” he said.

Colbert’s scouting department came to that conclusion while attending college games in the fall. Colbert asked his scouts in the offseason to double-check their work.

“Every time we do this, it keeps coming out strong,” he said. “It may come out stronger after the combine, but it may come out a little less. But it doesn’t change our thinking on Bud Dupree.”