Bud Dupree’s free-agent market has the potential to be among the more fascinating in the NFL.
Dupree, 28, when healthy is widely viewed among the premier pass-rushers in the NFL. But, a torn ACL suffered last December could depress Dupree’s market in free agency, and there is a feeling among league sources that he might need to follow Jadeveon Clowney’s path with a one-year prove it deal.
“Bud Dupree is someone that is a real question mark for me,” a current head coach recently told FanSided, on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly about players on other teams. “If he was healthy, he’s easily the top pass-rusher hitting the open market, and teams would pay a king’s ransom to sign him. But, with him coming off a torn ACL, what exactly are you committing to? Does he want to go back to Pittsburgh? Who knows, but he’s someone that I think will wind up having to wait a while to sign.”
In his first six seasons, Dupress has averaged 38.5 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks. Based on talent, he’s among the top pass-rushers available.
Coming off a season in which he produced nine sacks and 19 tackles in 11 games, much of Dupree’s value is going to be contingent on how team’s perceive his health, because they know productive he can be when he is on the field.
Here’s a look at five teams that should try to sign Dupree this offseason:
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts, after trading for Carson Wentz, appear all in on trying to win a Super Bowl around their recently acquired quarterback.
Indianapolis already has a swarming defense, with a pair of potential unrestricted free agents; Justin Houston and Denico Autry. As FanSided reported, the Colts have expressed interested in bringing back Houston as well as Autry, but both are expected to see many suitors if they become available.
Regardless of what happens Houston and Autry, the Colts would be wise to be in on Dupree’s market, should the Steelers not re-sign him.
In a conference with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson, generating relentless pressure on the quarterback is the only way to actually make it to the Super Bowl. Having as many high-end pass-rushers as possible makes that task just a bit easier.
NY Giants
Bolstering an inconsistent pass rush remains a top organizational priority for general manager Dave Gettleman and the NY Giants.
Last season, the GIants produced 40 sacks, tied for 12th most in the NFL, but defensive lineman Leonard Williams was the only player with double-digit sacks as New York’s edge presence was virtually non-existent.
The Giants will be getting Oshane Ximines and Lorenzo Carter back, and fully healthy, in 2021 but both are virtual wild cards. If Dupree is fully healthy, he would have the potential to vault to the top of New York’s pass-rush rotation.
Given that Dupree is coming off a torn ACL, and his market might be limited until teams figure out just how healthy he is, the Giants could be well-positioned to offer a one-year prove-it deal to Dupree just before the season as they did defensive back Logan Ryan last summer. If they do, coordinator Patrick Graham would have a much more talented group of edge rushers than he was able to deploy last season.
Carolina Panthers
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule turned Temple and Baylor into contenders at the college level on the back of menacing defenses that consistently got after the quarterback, a blueprint he’s hoping translates to Carolina and the NFL.
Dupree would be a welcomed complement opposite last April’s second-round pick, Yetur Gross-Matos, along the Panthers’ defensive line.
Prior to his injury, Dupree was viewed across the NFL as one of the game’s premier pass rushers, and if he is fully healthy, he would be an immediate playmaker for a Panthers defense that produced just 29 sacks last season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville enters this offseason with needs galore on both sides of the ball, but with more cap space than any team in the league to fill them.
The Jaguars’ glaring pass rush deficiency — only 18 sacks last season with Dawuane Smoot as the only player with more than 2.5 sacks — becomes an even bigger issue with Wentz’s arrival in the AFC South and the possibility that Deshaun Watson stays put as the Houston Texans’ quarterback.
Jacksonville will get a boost next season with the return of former first-round pick Josh Allen from injury, but given that this is a defense with minimal pass-rush presence, Dupree is the type of player the Jaguars can afford to take a chance on while also spending at the top of the free agent market and investing draft capital into the position. They’re going to need to dedicate significant resources here this offseason.
Tennessee Titans
There might not be a better fit in the league for Dupree than Tennessee.
Last offseason, the Titans gave Jadeveon Clowney a one-year prove it deal, and he was a monumental disappointment, but that likely won’t stop Tennessee from taking a similar tact with Dupree.
Dupree could easily step in and soften the blow from missing on Clowney and Vic Beasley, especially if he is forced to wait until much later in the offseason after the dust settles on some of the mega-deals to be signed in March. Tennessee currently has just over $1.8 million in cap space, so it’s unlikely they would be signing Dupree to a $100-plus million deal.
Tennessee produced just 19 sacks last season, with Harold Landry leading the way with 5.5 and defensive tackle Justin Simmons the only other Titan with more than two.
The Tians saw just how costly the lack of a pass rush is when Lamar Jackson had a career-afternoon, ending Tennessee’s season in the AFC Wild Card. It’s unlikely that GM Jon Robinson will be content entering 2021 with the same front-seven he finished 2020 with.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.