Steelers use franchise tag on linebacker Bud Dupree

Bud Dupree will remain under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers for at least one more season.

The Steelers applied the franchise tag Monday on the 27-year-old outside linebacker, keeping him from reaching unrestricted free agency.

The tag will carry an approximate value of $16 million in 2020.

Dupree earned $9.232 million in 2019 under the fifth-year option that the Steelers exercised the previous year.

In the final season of his rookie contract, Dupree set a career-high with 11½ sacks, which was tied for ninth in the NFL. His career-high 16 tackles for loss were tied for fourth in the league. Dupree and bookend outside linebacker T.J. Watt helped form one of the most productive pass-rush duos in the NFL.

In February, at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, general manager Kevin Colbert reiterated his desire to sign Dupree to a long-term contract. The Steelers have until July 15 to sign Dupree to a lengthier contract. If they are unable to do so, they cannot resume negotiations with Dupree until after the season.

“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 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.”

The Steelers must fit Dupree’s contract under the $198.2 million salary cap by the start of the new league year, which begins Wednesday at 4 p.m.

According to salary-tracking site spotrac.com, the Steelers entered Monday almost $5.5 million over the cap. They are the only NFL team that has spent above the salary cap.

By 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Steelers also must decide whether to tender offers to restricted free agents Zach Banner, Matt Feiler and Mike Hilton. Feiler completed his first full season as a starter at right tackle, but could be moved to guard with Foster’s retirement. Hilton is the starting slot cornerback, and Banner could compete for the starting right tackle spot if Feiler changes positions.

At noon Monday, the legal tampering period began, meaning teams could begin negotiating contracts with the free agents. The top free agents on the Steelers are nose tackle Javon Hargrave, backup interior offensive lineman B.J. Finney and backup tight end Nick Vannett.

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