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2015 NFL Draft grades: Pittsburgh Steelers take Bud Dupree

By Luke Dahlgren

Jul 17, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Bud Dupree talks to the media during the SEC football media days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Bud Dupree talks to the media during the SEC football media days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Steelers needed help on defense and that’s what they got with Bud Dupree in the first round. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been going through a transition on their defense. The Steelers lost safety Troy Polamalu as well linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Jason Worilds, and it made sense for them to draft defense again. They have a history of taking defense, and it would be unthinkable that they stray from that formula.

They did just that when they decided to take one of the best edge rushers available. They also picked up one of the best names in the draft. Dupree sounds like the leader of a posse sent down to hunt a dangerous killer. Perhaps this killer is named Sauce Castillo.

Dupree is an incredible athlete, who threatens teams with his piercing edge rushing. Unlike many of the edge rushers at the top of the draft, Dupree has the size and strength to handle the run and the athleticism to cover running backs in coverage. He is a bit unpolished, but at the same time he is a high character player going into a system that cultivates talent.

It is understandable that the Steelers decided to pass on Shane Ray and Randy Gregory here considering their lowered draft stock. I may be alone in this, but I think the Steelers would have been better suited taking one of those players and potentially picking up a major difference-maker for years to come.

Still, they have the

Grade: A-

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